Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters presented here and am not making any profit off of this whatsoever.
Story Title: This Time, It's Me
Chapter Title: Clearing and More Confusion
Story Word Count: 37,943
Chapter Word Count: 3,827
Rated: PG-13
Romance: Honda x Anzu
Notes: This takes place a few months after the Ceremonial Duel, in the closing weeks of their third year of high school. Comments and criticism gratefully accepted.
Summary: As Valentine's Day draws near, Anzu wavers between just sticking to her obligations, or stepping away to follow the call of her heart.

Only a few more days now remained until Valentine's Day. Business at the candy store had picked up immeasurably, as had business at the various grocery stores that sold the ingredients for candy-making. Anzu could hardly miss it when so many of her classmates began to whisper and giggle in their free time about who they were going to be giving their homemade and obligation chocolates to. More than a few of them had dropped into Ms. Tanaka's store for advice and sweets over the last few days.

A small smile played over her lips at the thought of those days she'd worked. As always, Honda had been there every time to walk her home. Ever since their afternoon trip to the movies, she had felt as if something were growing between them with every time they spoke to each other or looked at each other. It was something more than the friendship they'd shared, and Anzu found it extraordinarily comforting.

The review sessions their teachers had been putting them through were getting more and more grueling with every day, and Anzu needed every scrap of comfort she could get. She still hadn't mentioned to Honda, or anyone other than Yuugi, about her failure to get into Juilliard, and she was quite confidant that Yuugi hadn't told anyone.

She still hadn't asked him how he'd managed to avoid spilling about the fact he'd known long before she had about what Honda had planned and felt. I want to know, but it's weird...it doesn't really feel like it matters anymore. There were so many other things that needed to be done. So Yuugi had managed, for once in his life, to keep a secret from her. It wasn't that much to get worked up over.

To be honest, it wasn't really the first time. He'd kept it to himself for months abut the existence of the Spirit of the Puzzle. But that was something else. He'd really thought they would abandon him if they'd known the truth. Still, it was some kind of practice for this.

She turned a page in her book and leaned back in her seat, wanting to give all the information a chance to sink into her mind where it might possibly do some good. School would be over with soon, and for once she didn't have to run off to work almost as soon as the bell rang. She could take her time, maybe chat with her friends before walking home...

I never told Yuugi about Fukazawa. The thought burst full-formed into her mind and she barely noticed her fingers curling into a fist. She hadn't went near Yuugi, Anzu was certain of that much. But she was going to be. Anzu was every bit as certain of that.

She glanced at the clock briefly. It wasn't that long until the end of classes for the day, and she breathed a quick and silent sigh of relief. She trusted Yuugi to take care of himself, but it would be better if he were prepared for whatever kind of assault Fukazawa intended to unleash on him, especially if it were of the heaving bosom and fluttering eyelash type. Anzu was more than ready to be there with something to combat the nausea that would stir in Yuugi. Or at least she hoped it would.

After all, he'd went flame-red over the sight of Mai all those months ago, and that had been when he'd still been crushing on her. How he might react now could be entirely different.

Her nails bit harder into her hands as something else crashed in on her. What if he decides to go out with her just to try to get over me? Or worse, what if Yuugi decided to go out with Fukazawa just because he was that nice of a guy? If she spun a sob story before any of his friends could warn him of what she was like...

She was just going to have to head that off at the pass. And the sooner she did it, the better.

Maybe I should punch Jounouchi for passing me those notes my first day at work. If he hadn't, she would have been passing one to Yuugi as quickly as possible. As it was, the teacher's eyes hovered quite near all of them during class time. Sure, she knew they had to study and get ready for the tests, but this was every bit as important. She didn't think Ms. Maruyama would believe it, though.

It wasn't as if Fukazawa could swoop in during the middle of class and carry Yuugi away, though. But as soon as class ended, Anzu swore she'd be giving him that warning.

True to her word, as soon as the last bell had rung and people began to surge this way and that towards the lockers and the outer doors, Anzu forged her way over to where Yuugi, Honda, Jounouchi, Otogi, and Bakura were doing the exact same thing, if a little slower.

"Hey, guys!" she declared once she was in talking range. "Yuugi, have you got a second?"

He blinked at her, his eyes flicking over towards Honda for a moment before looking back at her. "Sure, Anzu. What's up?"

She glanced at everyone else for a moment, then decided more was better. Besides, they'd always done their best work when they were a team anyway. "In fact, I kind of think everyone should listen up."

"What is it?" Jounouchi looked and sounded kind of curious, and Anzu plunged ahead quickly.

"You guys remember that girl Fukazawa?" That name didn't cause the kind of reaction that some others might have, but both Jounouchi and Honda looked a little more alert once she'd said it.

Yuugi, however, still had that same clueless, polite smile on his face he usually did. "What about her?"

"She came into the store the other day and..." Anzu wasn't certain of just how to say what Fukazawa had actually said and decided to try a different approach on the spur of the moment. "I think she's going to try to get you to go out with her, Yuugi. And I don't think she's really going to be taking no for an answer."

A low growl rumbled, and Anzu looked up quickly to see Jounouchi's fists clenching every bit as hard as her own had. "That little..." He didn't normally insult girls these days, but what he said after that made up for all the times he hadn't, and would have earned him quite a bit of detention if a teacher had happened to overhear him.

"Thanks, Anzu," Yuugi replied, then shook his head a little bit at Jounouchi. "You don't have to act like that."

"And she doesn't have to be trying to get those claws of hers into my best friend!" Jounouchi snapped, amber eyes flaring with anger. "She likes to mess with people's heads, and worse!"

"Carrying stories about me?" A bad attempt at a sultry voice spoke from the door, and they all looked to see Fukazawa standing there, smirking in amusement. "Really, you'd think I was some kind of monster or something."

"I've met monsters." Anzu snapped. "You don't even come close."

The other girl only smiled again and started over towards Yuugi. "I want to propose a little something, Yuugi," she said, ignoring the rest of them. "Just between me and you."

Yuugi put on his most polite smile and began to shake his head. "I really don't feel like dating, I'm sorry. I have a lot of other plans."

"Oh, I wasn't going to ask for a date. Not right away." Fukazawa reached into a pocket and pulled out the same dueling deck she'd been toying with when she had taunted Anzu at the candy store. "But that was what I had in mind. You see, these are my stakes: we'll have a duel. If I win, you'll take me out to a restaurant I know of. If you win, you don't have to. It's that simple."

Before Yuugi could answer, Jounouchi, Honda, and Otogi all had near simultaneous coughing fits, and Bakura looked as if he would have openly laughed, if he wasn't as well-mannered as he was. Anzu tried not to laugh as hard as she really wanted to. She hadn't ever for a moment thought that Fukazawa was serious about wanting to duel Yuugi. If she was any good, she would have been invited to Duelist Kingdom or made it through the ranks of Battle City, or at least placed in some kind of tournament.

So she has to have some other kind of a plan. Anzu's mind raced, trying to figure out what it could be, while everyone else did their best to get under control again.

Fukazawa's smile didn't waver, though Anzu was certain it had become a little strained. "What's so funny?"

"You challenged Yuugi to a duel," Bakura said quietly, the faintest hints of a smile twitching at his lips. "I've never seen you duel, but I really am not certain if you know what you're getting yourself into."

"Now, I know Yuugi's won some tournaments, so what is the problem?" Her smile only widened, a little more confidant now. "If he's all that good, then he shouldn't have any problems beating me. Of course if he'd rather take me out without having to duel, that would solve the whole problem right then and there."

Yuugi finally spoke up. "Fukazawa, if you really want a duel, I'll duel you. But I will not go out with you, no matter what." His voice was strong and firm, and if Anzu hadn't known better, she would have at least suspected that his other was there again. He still sounded like Yuugi, but he wasn't backing down from a situation either.

She found herself to be very, very proud of him just then.

Fukazawa pouted and took a step closer to him. "I've got some homemade chocolates I've been working on just for you, Yuugi. I know it's not Valentine's Day just yet, but I'm sure you wouldn't mind them being a little early, would you?"

Anzu wondered exactly what it was that made her so thick-skulled. Yuugi would be willing to befriend anyone and everyone up to and including potted plants but this was just going too far!

"I'm sorry." There was no compromise in his tone. "You're really not my type. Thank you, though. And if you ever want to really duel, let me know. I always like a good game."

He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder before he looked at the rest of his friends. "Come on, guys. We can hit the arcade before we go home. There's still time."

Anzu wanted to hug him. The look on Fukazawa's face was completely and utterly priceless. I wish I dared to get a picture of it. It would have made such a lovely photo to put in her collection. As it was, she just walked out, leaving Fukazawa standing there open-mouthed and in shock.

If things like this happened every day, she would be very, very sad to leave school.

"Think she's going to try to get him to take her out again?" Jounouchi wondered as they walked. He and Honda were on each side of Anzu, while Yuugi was quietly talking with Otogi and Bakura ahead of them. Anzu couldn't hear what they were saying, but she suspected it probably had something to do with what had just happened. It was the only thing she could think about, after all.

"I wouldn't be surprised," she replied. "She can be stubborn when she wants to be."

"I think we saw that," Honda muttered. Anzu could feel herself coloring just at the sound of his voice. There was something so different about it. Or maybe it was just the way she was reacting to it. I...I think I want to make him some chocolates. There was still time to do it. She didn't even have to go to a store; her mom kept candy making ingredients on hand virtually all of the time, since her father had such a sweet tooth.

"Jounouchi!" Almost as soon as they stepped out of the school, their blond friend's name was called, and Anzu was extraordinarily unsurprised to see Mai standing there, an amused grin all over her face. It was so much more of a nicer expression than what Fukazawa tended to sport, even though someone else might have thought they were very similar.

Maybe back when we first met Mai. But she's learned a lot since then. Now if only Fukazawa could do the same thing.

As soon as she called for him, Jounouchi headed over to her. "What are you doing here, Mai? You can't want to go back to school."

"No, you idiot. But I was thinking maybe you'd want to hit the beach or something with me."

Jounouchi looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "Mai, it's February."

"So? It's not that cold, either, and we don't have to go swimming. Come on! Let's go!" She started towards her car, and Jounouchi just shook his head with a slightly dopey grin.

"I'll see you guys later!" He declared, waving at everyone else as he went off to join her.

Yuugi laughed a little as the car swiftly vanished out of the school parking lot. "I think we know what he's going to be doing for the rest of the day." Fondness wrapped his words as he turned down the street. "Everyone else still up for the arcade?"

Anzu hesitated for a moment; she did want to go, but now that she had made her decision about the chocolates, she almost wanted to get started on them more quickly. No. I'm going to stay with them. I've still got another couple of days until Valentine's Day anyway. I can make them tomorrow once I get home from work.

That would mean another walk home with Honda, and maybe they could actually start talking about what they'd like to do for their first real date. Everything in her sang at the very thought of it. Dating Honda. Really dating him, not just doing things like all of them did together. She could hardly wait for it. They still hadn't set any kind of plans for it. She had a feeling he wanted it to be something special, not just what they did, but the way he asked. Deep inside, no matter how much it might embarrass him, he was a secret romantic.

Which is something that I like about him.

"It's so hard to believe that we're almost done with school." She almost missed Bakura speaking, his voice was so soft. He showed his emotions much more freely these days than he had when he still bore the Millennium Ring, but for the most part, he was usually the same quiet boy who had entered their class back in their first year. Anzu wondered if he would accept anyone's chocolate this year at all. He was still, and probably always would be, an enigma to all of them except perhaps Yuugi.

"I know what you mean. It seems like just yesterday that we were starting high school!" Yuugi declared. "And now..."

"Now we can finally dump it and go do something important!" Otogi interjected. Honda laughed briefly.

"You already know what you're going to be doing, Otogi. Not everyone has all their plans made."

The black-haired teen flashed one of those trademark cocky grins. "Can I help it if I'm just naturally talented? In many things?"

"Sounds like someone's ego is getting out of control," Anzu murmured, just loudly enough to be heard. Otogi grinned over his shoulder at her.

"It's not ego when it's the absolute truth."

She wondered if it were worth the time it would take to smack him. What was she thinking, of course it was. She smacked him lightly on the arm, grinning right back at him. "Maybe, but it still needs to be kept down, before you break something with it."

Otogi just rolled his eyes and grinned, strolling along as if nothing else in the world mattered. She thought about smacking him again, but the thought dissolved away as she caught sight of Honda's amused look.

"What?" she asked, walking a little closer to him. Honda shrugged.

"I was just thinking about when you'd chase us away from messing with Yuugi. And those...games we'd play with you." He knew as well as she did that the word 'games' was the politest way to say they'd pulled her skirt up more than once. "All that, and you're still not only friends with us, but..."

Anzu smiled a little. "Hey, you grew out of needing your head smacked constantly. Took you long enough." She shook her head. "You weren't all that bad." A flash of memory rippled over her mind, as she recalled Yuugi telling her one day that Honda had made him buy the taller boy some dirty magazines. "Well, at least not as bad as you could have been."

After all, if he'd really hurt Yuugi, he wouldn't be standing there with his brains intact at the moment, would he? The other Yuugi would have seen to that.

"Yeah." Honda shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked along. Otogi, Bakura, and Yuugi were still talking ahead of them, and Anzu was quite certain the topic would be games of some type. It was what the three of them lived for. She had no idea of how they could talk about it as much as they did, but it seemed to make them happy. Maybe her love of dance was just as confusing to them.

Dancing. Juilliard. She winced just a little at the thoughts as they chained together. Would she ever get there? Don't give up trying, she told herself firmly. Maybe she wouldn't go there, but there were other dance schools in the world. She'd just have to keep on until she was accepted somewhere.

"Something's on your mind." Honda spoke the words quietly, so the others wouldn't hear. "Want to talk about it?"

She couldn't exactly say it was nothing. Well, she could. She just didn't want to. I guess I should. "I was just thinking about...something." She knew that didn't answer his question, and all he did was continue to walk beside her, waiting patiently. She had the impression he felt he could wait the rest of the week if that were what it took to get her answer.

As interesting as that would have been to see, Anzu didn't want to wait that long. Keeping it bottled up, even with the little release of talking to Yuugi, was really getting to her. "I sent in an application to Juilliard a few months ago," she said at last. She didn't bother to keep her voice too down. If Bakura and Otogi heard her, that was all right. They were her friends too. "I got rejected."

From the quick flash of green eyes back towards her, she knew Otogi had heard, and Bakura's slight wince of sympathy meant he was no more deaf than the game designer. Yuugi only nodded slightly, large eyes turned towards her full of caring and compassion.

Honda shrugged briefly. "Their loss. They'll regret it one day."

Anzu smiled to herself, shifting her grip on her bag. Of all the things that could have been said, what he said warmed her inside. It meant just as much as what the others didn't say.

They were still two streets over from the arcade when Honda touched her shoulder a little. "Hey, there's the ramen stand. Want to get some?"

"Sure. What about you guys?" Anzu asked before she could stop herself. Getting ramen from there had always just been something she and Honda had done on their walks home. Asking them didn't feel quite wrong, but it didn't feel quite right, either. It's just what you're used to, that's all. It's nothing.

Anzu focused more on her ramen once she had it than anything else. It was good, it was hot, and just what she wanted in the nippy afternoon air. There wasn't much talking that could be done while they are, and she simply enjoyed being with her friends. She cast an extra glance or two at Honda as they walked, and every time she felt a little warmer, a little more certain of the sensations growing within her. It still might not be anything more than a high school experience, but she didn't feel like believing in that just yet.

"Hey, Yuugi," Honda spoke up as he pushed his ramen bowl into a trashcan. "You think we could skip the arcade and go to your place? There's something I want to talk to you about there."

Yuugi blinked a few times, then nodded. "Sure, Honda. You don't mind, do you, guys?"

Before anyone else could say anything, Honda interrupted. "I kind of meant just you and me. It's...it's personal. Private. That kind of thing."

Bakura nodded briefly. "Of course. I understand."

"No problem. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Otogi grinned at the two of them, and Anzu automatically whacked his arm. "Hey! What was that for?"

"There's no need for you to be the pervert just because Jounouchi isn't here," she told him sharply as she looked at Honda and Yuugi. What kind of private thing could Honda want to talk to Yuugi about? He hadn't mentioned anything at all like this before...

What, do you think you're the only person he talks to? His every action has to revolve around you? It's probably some guy thing. She wanted to hit herself, but that would just look really strange. Instead, she just nodded at her two friends. "I'll see you after work tomorrow, Honda, I guess?"

Instead of the friendly nod and smile she'd expected, he shook his head a little. "I can't, sorry. My sister's visiting, and I've got to take care of Johji while she and my mom catch up or whatever it is they're trying to do."

"Oh." The walk home was going to be a lot longer, a little colder, and mountains of less interesting now. She smiled anyway. "All right, see you around."

As Honda and Yuugi left, Otogi tugged at her sleeve. "Come on, we can still go to the arcade. Right?"

She blinked some, refusing to acknowledge any vague stingings in her eyes, and nodded. "Right. Come on!" She started towards the arcade as quickly as she could. She wanted to dance, to get rid of all the feelings that were boiling up inside of her, and there was no better place to do it right now than at the arcade.

She almost felt sorry for anyone trying to beat her at the dance game today.

To Be Continued