In Case of Emergency

Disclaimer: Always check your child's yugioh before allowing him to eat it.

-A/N: Sorry that this was so late! Life's been hellish. REALLY just... bad. Heh. But! Here we are. I hope everyone enjoys it!

21: Ways to Where You Are
The waitress led them to their table, where Yugi was already seated. He smiled at them both happily as they sat down. "Good afternoon," he said brightly. "It's good to see both of you. How are you?"

Anzu responded in the usual, polite way, then asked him a question of the same kind. Yugi smiled again. "Quite well, actually. There's talk of a new game to be released by Otogi's company soon, and I'm hoping to be able to stock it. If Otogi can follow through on his promise, I should be the first store in Domino to have it."

"Oh, that's great, Yugi! I'm glad the game shop is still doing well."

He nodded. "Yes, it's thriving, all right. And I'm happy - I was worried that running the shop would be dull after I got so used to all our adventures, but I guess it suits me." He grinned and took a sip of his steaming tea. "Though we are a little short-handed."

Seto grunted. "Then hire someone else." He wasn't enjoying himself at all - but in all fairness, he certainly hadn't expected to. He didn't like Yugi - he didn't like spending time with Yugi. And he certainly did not like seeing Anzu and Yugi conversing so easily, reminding him again of all the history they had, of how close they had been for so many years.

Anzu shot him a dirty look, but he turned away and ignored it.

The subsequent pause was exceedingly awkward. Yugi cleared his throat. "W-well… Yes. That is a good idea. I've been looking into it a little, but so far I haven't really found anyone." He shrugged. "I suppose it's because I really haven't looked hard enough. Thanks for the suggestion, though."

Anzu poked him in the arm, hard. He hissed through his teeth, "You're welcome."

They ate their meals in relative silence. Seto was in a brooding sort of mood, and he wouldn't have been good conversation anyway. Anzu often forgot how much he really disliked most of the people she knew.

She cleared her throat. "So… Honda and Arisa's wedding isn't that far away. Are you two looking forward to it?" Seto started to answer, but before he could speak she amended her question. "No, Yugi – are you looking forward to it?"

He ignored the withering glare he received from one member of their party and smiled warmly at the other. "Of course! I'm glad they're so happy – I really think the two of them are perfect together. I mean…" He cleared his throat and looked down for a second. "It's a little strange to remember that she was our teacher in high school, but it's been long enough – and they've certainly been together long enough – that I'm sure we all can look past it."

Anzu laughed. "Yeah. They're an… odd couple, to say the least, but they love each other so much that… Even if they hadn't been together so long, I think I could still forget that Arisa had been our teacher."

Seto shook his head. "It's weird. Their relationship is weird."

"Well…" Yugi shrugged. "Maybe a little weird."

Anzu laughed again. "Right." She touched Seto's shoulder and grinned mischievously. "Maybe just a little."

The atmosphere was much more comfortable after that. Though Seto felt more than a little apprehensive, he was assured of Anzu's affections and saw Yugi as no sort of rival - regardless of what had happened in their past. That didn't mean he had to like the short, blond upstart, though.

A good amount of time had passed and Anzu was the first to notice how the afternoon had waned away. "Wow, we've been here awhile." She smiled at the two men. "I'm glad you two can get along well enough to enjoy a meal together."

"I think enjoy is a rather strong word, don't you?"

Yugi cleared his throat. "I, um... I like to try to get along with everyone." He looked around the table, wishing for a cup to drink from to alleviate the awkwardness.

"Well, I guess we better be going. Seto, are you - "

"Actually," Yugi said suddenly, "I was wondering if we maybe could talk for a little while longer. Just about... Honda's bachelor party. All that stuff."

Anzu didn't seem suspicious. "Yeah, that's fine." She stood and looked to Seto. "I'll see you tonight, okay?"

He nodded and gave her a half-hearted wave. "Yes, yes - tonight."

"All right. Goodbye." She smiled at Yugi. "Bye bye."

They both watched her leave. Once she was gone, Yugi cleared his throat again. He looked at Seto and tried to smile. "So, I - "

"Why don't you cut the bull and tell me why you want to talk to me. Honda's bachelor party?" His voice oozed sarcasm. "Forgive me if I'm just the slightest bit skeptical."

"All right, so I suppose there is something else." He looked away from Seto. "This has... been on my mind for a long time, and I just thought I should... say something. I know it's not really my place, but..."

"Mutou, what the hell is this about?"

"Anzu," he said bluntly. "I know that you two have a good relationship, but..." He tried to smile, almost apologetically. "As you probably know, when you two had your fight - about Anzu dancing and... and all that - we had a... well, a - "

"I know," he spat. "I'm fully aware of that, and I see no reason to discuss it."

Yugi frowned and tried again. "I'm... I'm not trying to rub it in, Kaiba. I - "

"Oh, I'm sure you're not. You're merely bringing to my attention that you've gotten further with my girlfriend than I have."

"Kaiba..." Yugi's voice was pained. "I - "

"No. I am angry. You are done talking." His eyes were like ice. "And if you do not change the subject immediately, I will remind you why we were enemies in high school."

There was no doubt that he was serious. "Of course." He looked away from Kaiba's piercing glare, twirling the straw in his empty water glass between two fingers.

"So." Seto gave him an open invitation.

"You know, Rebecca's leaving soon. I know your brother would want to know.

"Oh?"

"That's right." Yugi nodded, glad to be away from anything dangerous. "I think she said her flight was the day after tomorrow."

Otogi had, for the most part, enjoyed his day out with Shizuka.

She smiled, clutching the strap of her purse like a young girl. She always seemed so... young. Internally, Otogi winced. Shizuka was a beautiful girl; even when they had been teenagers, he'd thought she was lovely. But they weren't teenagers any more. He was just making a real name for himself, budding into a successful businessman. Shizuka had been a fantasy when he was in school, but he wasn't in school – he hadn't been in school for awhile.

"That was delicious, honey!" Shizuka gently squeezed his arm, then slipped her own into the crook of his. "What a great lunch. I'd like to go back to your apartment, though; I'm going to see my brother and Kujaku-san for supper and I'd like to have time to freshen up before I meet them."

"Oh yeah - yeah, of course. I thought that's where we were going anyway, babe." He gave her a crooked smile.

She giggled - or was he attributing girlish affectations to her subconsciously? - and moved in a little closer as they walked. "I love you, you know," she said happily, though her tone betrayed her giddy manner - she was as serious as could be.

He untangled his arm and put it around her. Placing a rather awkward kiss on top of her head, he said, "I know. I love you, too, babe. I love you, too."

To passersby, they looked like the perfect couple. She was obviously adoring, holding onto him as though he were the most precious thing in the world. And Otogi… Well he had that look of masculine pride – he was with his girlfriend, his wonderful, beautiful girlfriend; and whether or not his actual feelings matched the ones his exterior showed evidence of, he certainly was proud to have her on his arm.

He only wished that pride meant he was content with having only her on his arm.

They returned to his apartment soon after that. Shizuka put away the few things she had bought while Otogi turned on the television set. She bustled through, humming a song under her breath, while he just sat, his mind far away.

Until he was snapped out of his reverie by the wailing of his cell phone – he hadn't ever really intended to change his ringtone.

"Shit," he whispered, glancing at the screen. It was Sakura. He looked around guiltily, then – unable to help himself – flipped open his phone. "Hello?"

"Hi," Sakura said, her voice full of a dark warmth. "What are you doing?"

He knew he should lie – he knew he should tell her he was busy. "Um…" He swallowed nervously. "Nothing. I'm not… I'm not busy."

"Good." He swore he heard her smile. "I was thinking… Maybe we could get together. You've been on my mind lately; I'd like to see you."

Wasn't that almost over-doing it? Why the hell was he just so attracted to her? She was… only gorgeous.

He swore to himself. "Well… I don't think Shizuka – "

"Why do you suppose it's anything that dear Shizuka-san should be worried about? I'm a businesswoman, you're a businessman. Our dealings certainly don't have to be anything more than… innocent."

No one could believe that word when it came from her lips.

"Oh, um… of course not." He lowered his voice. "I've thought about you, too."

"Really?" The interest in her voice was positively scandalous. "I'd love to hear some of those thoughts. Are you coming?"

"I don't – "

"Are you coming or not?"

He sighed. Damn it. "Yeah. Are you at your place?" She responded in the affirmative. "Okay, then. I'll see you soon."

Shizuka came into the room just as he grabbed his coat. "Where are you going honey?" she asked, smiling pleasantly.

Otogi felt guilt squeeze his throat, rising up like a wave of bile, a giant knot in his stomach. "Oh, just a... business meeting. Trying to make a few new contacts at KaibaCorp. I shouldn't be gone too long - I'll definitely be back before you get done with your dinner." He kissed her forehead. "Okay?"

"Okay." She was so unsuspicious - he felt doubly bad about lying. "Have a good time." She leaned up to kiss him sweetly on the mouth. "I love you."

He tried to smile. "I know, Shizuka." He sighed as he walked to the door. She was still smiling at him, gazing at his retreating back fondly. "I know."

Seto and Anzu sat in his study later that evening, sharing smiles over a bottle of expensive wine.

Suddnenly Mokuba rushed in, nearly tripping over the doorframe in his hurry to enter the room. He looked at Seto earnestly, brushing off his inexplicable harriedness. "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes," Seto said slowly, "I did." After an inital glare for the interruption, he regarded his younger brother carefully. For a moment he considered asking Mokuba where he had been, but then decided he didn't really care enough to bother. "I have something to tell you. Anzu and I had lunch with Mutou today, and I found out that Rebecca Hawkins is leaving - the day after tomorrow."

Mokuba looked aghast. "What? Leaving?" He shook his head and looked down, apparently in deep thought. "I don't... She can't... This is... No! She is not getting away that easily."

Anzu giggled quietly behind her hand. "Romantic last meeting at the airport before she leaves?"

"No - I'm not even cutting it that close; too great a margin for error. What time's she leaving?"

Seto thought for a second. "Late afternoon, Mutou said."

"Perfect. I'm catching her at Yugi's before she leaves. She's just gotta finally forgive me. Thanks, Seto; wish me luck."

He left as abruptly as he had come, rushing frantically out of the room. Seto sighed and gave Anzu a weary, apologetic look.

"Was he drunk?"

"Seto, I don't think - "

"No, there was consumption of alcohol, I'm certain. I just don't know how much."

Anzu smiled - rather indulgently, Seto noticed unhappily. "He's not a kid, any more, you know."

"I don't want to hear it, Anzu. I know he's not. But he's my little brother." He crossed his arms and scowled petulantly. "Anything he does reflects badly on me."

"Come on, it wasn't as though he was..." Anzu waved her hand, trying to think of something Seto would especially disapprove of. "Um... flying to Europe unsupervised, or anything."

"What?" Seto blinked, then resumed his scowling. "Europe?"

Anzu cracked a smile. "He was probably just out dancing or something, Seto. You know he's always been a little more active than you - especially as you two have grown up."

"And that puts him in greater danger. If you haven't noticed - and I suspect you haven't - he's been even more reckless than usual lately. It's my responsibility to worry about him; I let him run rampant when he was younger, and how many times did he wind up getting kidnapped? I'm an adult now - in this respect, at least, I imagine I ought to act the part."

Anzu grinned. "This certainly seems to have worked you up; I thought you were exhausted."

"I'm never too tired to be worried about him. In eight hours I'd bet he could cause more trouble than I could fix in a week."

Anzu chuckled and moved closer, her hand moving past his knee. "Eight hours, huh? That long? I don't think you're giving him enough credit."

He wasn't paying attention to her words. He grabbed her hand and brought it up to his shoulder, moving forward to guide her into a closer embrace. "What's this? You're usually not so forward."

She sighed, laying her head on her shoulder and letting her arms snake around his neck. "I'm not being forward, I'm..."

He kissed her temple. "I knew I shouldn't have mentioned that conversation with Mutou today."

She didn't say anything, but he could see the pink in her neck and ears. He sighed, worried that she would snap or close up again.

After a moment, though, she said, "Remember when we were in high school? I always thought you hated me; you acted as though I were a plague on the earth."

"Well, then you were. Even I have lapses in judgement - though, of course, they're infinitesimal." He looked pensive for a moment. "High school was... not the best time in my life personality-wise, Anzu. Why do you bring it up?"

"I was just... thinking." Her fingers absently played at the nape of his neck. "You're right. You've changed so much since then." A smile bloomed across her face. "You've changed so much since then. I really admire the man you've become. He's... intelligent. Handsome." She sat back a little to better survey him. "Not kind, exactly, but... he's good to those he cares about."

He pulled her mouth to his. "One of whom would be you."

"Yes, me." She grinned. "And he's..." She looked up at him, her eyes half-lidded, something dancing in their depths that he didn't recognize. "Amazing. I can think of no other man I'd rather be with."

He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "I mean that," she said. "You're... Well, you're Seto. And I love that about you. I care about you. I want to stay with you. I'm comfortable with you."

"Big words, Anzu. Do you mean it?"

"Don't be stupid; of course I do."

He wanted to call her on what she had said. He knew she had meant more than she would be willing to admit.

But Anzu wasn't ready to explain herself, regardless of what weight her words might have held. "And remember how we first got together? You never thanked Honda for that, you know."

Seto snorted. "I'm one of his groomsmen. I think I've gone above and beyond."

She lifted her head high and grinned, her long bangs nearly covering her sparkling eyes. She needed to get her hair trimmed; he knew she didn't like it that long. "That's all I'm worth to you? Just one wedding?"

He kissed her gently. "No, no, Anzu - not just one wedding. One wedding with Honda, Mutou, Jounouchi..." He kissed her again. "And if that's any measure of the other people you all know, then I think that this 'thanks' him plenty."

She rolled her eyes. "Well. When you put it like that..."

He chuckled softly. "I knew you'd see it my way."

"I always do, don't I?"

She went in to kiss him again, only to feel his stifling a yawn against her skin. She laughed and gave him a firm kiss on the forehead. "Looks like it's bedtime for you, young man."

"As loath as I am to admit you're right..." He stood up and yawned again.

"I'm right?"

He gave her a smile despite himself. "Yes, you're right." He helped her up and gently touched her cheek. "I assume you can see yourself out?"

"If I get lost, I'll give you a call. See you later?"

"Definitely. We'll make plans soon."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him a final time. "Thank you for a lovely evening. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Anzu. Dream of me."

She sauntered backwards to the door. One hand rested coyly on the frame as she stood at the exit; she gave him a cheesy wink, wearing a wide, mischievous smile. "No one but you, Seto. No one but you."

-End A/N: There we go! Chapter twenty-one. THE END IS SO SAPPY! (But it's cute...) It's not filler (I try my hardest not to do filler), but nothing of particular interest, either. Oh, but you find out that Rebecca's leaving, and that Mokuba plans to do something about it. Yeah, that comes up later. And there's some very, very obvious foreshadowing. All in all, I guess this chapter kind of sucks.

Anyway... I'm really sorry it took so long for me to update. I have excuses, of course, but I'm fairly certain you have no interest in hearing them. I'll try to write chapter twenty-two in a more timely manner, but I can't guarantee anything since the end of the semester is coming up. I could do it if I could get all my papers done - anyone want to help with a 10 page report? Eh? Eh? No, I kid. Anyway...

Reviews are adored and appreciated; they make my little writer heart soar. Thanks for reading!

(One last note - check out my livejournal for the first part of chapter twenty-two in a few days. I'm regularly posting chapter outlines and stuff - so hopefully that can tide any "ICOE" itch should the next update take this long. I hope it won't though. Heh.)