A/N: I still don't own YGO…

Chapter Five – Smoothing Things Over

Anzu and Joey slowly walked along the corridor back to the library in silence, each wrapped up in their own thoughts, "I think we should all go to Mokuba's birthday Joey. Not just for Mokuba but for our friendship, it is too precious to be lost over something like this."

Joey stopped, grabbed both Anzu's arms and looked intensely at her, "Are you sure you're okay with that Anzu? It'll mean a whole week of just the five of us, two yamis and the Kaiba brothers, not exactly the best way of getting over a crushing blow like you just received."

Anzu grimaced at the blonde, "I received that blow long ago Joey, I just didn't feel it until now."

With eyes looking at him mournfully Anzu walked through the double doors of the library and stopped dead, Yami was out of the puzzle in his semi-transparent spirit form and conversing with Yuugi. He replied to a comment of Yuugi's with a heart stopping smile and she felt herself welling up again, love hurts she thought. Why did he have to listen to Yuugi and make himself partially visible to us? I suppose I'd best get this over and done with.

"Hello guys." The smile froze on Yami's face and it almost turned to a cold glare as Anzu sat down in the seat she had recently vacated, Yuugi gave the spirit a pleading look as Joey sat down on the windowsill behind him to gaze outside.

/ Don't say anything Yami, just hear what she has to say. It's taken a lot for her to come back here/

The Pharaoh relaxed slightly at Yuugi's words and glanced at him, You are right as usual my friend, but I can not help but tense up when she is near

Yuugi smiled at his dark half, / I think I know that already Yami, I thought I could sense your emotions and they affected me slightly whenever she was near / Plus with the jealously I have for her being able to tell you how she feels.

Anzu felt like someone had stabbed her in the heart and twisted the knife as she saw the look of a secret shared that Yami gave Yuugi. He'll never look at me that, so tenderly, and it hurts so much just to know that. Steeling herself for the discussion ahead she recited her mantra; Once more unto the breach dear Anzu, once more.

Closing her eyes to prevent the tears from forming she quietly said what she felt needed to be said, "I'm sorry Yami, I guess I should have listened to what you were telling me in the first place." Yuugi felt Yami's shock reverberate throughout their link and Anzu gave a small smile. "We should try and put this all behind us, the best way to do that would be to go on holiday with the Kaiba brothers and help give Mokuba the birthday of his lifetime."

Could it be that she's finally realised Yuugi?! Dare I hope? They both looked at Anzu who seemed to shrink under their combined gaze.

/ I think this time she's actually going to stop Yami…Maybe once again we can be friends instead of barely tolerated acquaintances / And enemies, he added to himself silently.

Yami nodded and spoke in his deep baritone, "That is a good idea Anzu, but remember, we go now not just for ourselves but for Mokuba as well."

Everyone nodded and heeded the wise spirit's words. Anzu smiled again and turned around to see the wall clock but was instead distracted by Seto Kaiba walking into the library, "Hey did you hear that rumour going around about Kaiba?"

Joey started slightly before looking at Anzu; "Rumours mean nothing. They're just spread by people who are bored; you remember that one when we were still in school? They actually had a rumour that said Kaiba was a nice guy..."

The group sniggered and Anzu continued, " Well these rumours are saying that Kaiba has a nice guy," the sniggering stopped and everyone looked at her in surprise before Yuugi looked up to an area above Anzu's head.

"Well you know we've got to ask about that one Kaiba, since we've been in college we've not heard anything this juicy in a while." Yami smirked at his companion's words whilst a pair of cool sapphire eyes glared at a mischievous looking Yuugi.

"Are you even old enough to know about relationships yet Mutoh?" Came the cool voice as Anzu scrambled away from the CEO who had been standing behind her.

Joey stared at Seto and asked in a voice strangely without any hint of teasing, "So we can take that as a maybe you have this mystery guy then Kaiba."

For a moment the brunette held Joey's level stare, "It means you can take it any way you want to. That's all people do, they make up their own minds no matter what you tell them. People make an opinion of you based upon what they see or hear. There's nothing you can do about it, and so that's why I have a PR department for my company which makes sure that nasty rumours or other similar things will not tarnish my reputation."

Joey shrugged whilst the other members of the group looked on curiously at the duo before the librarian magically appeared from behind a crowded bookshelf. The dowdy looking woman peered out from behind her spectacles, noticed the semi-transparent Yami and stopped to clean her glasses. "I've told your group before that this is a library not the local café," Ryou guiltily hid his mug of coffee, "Now settle down and clean up or I will eject you from the library."

Slipping her newly cleaned glasses back onto his nose she noticed that the partially visible figure had disappeared. That's odd, I could've sworn I saw someone standing there…don't worry Muriel you're probably just going to walk down that long padded corridor into a lovely room with a long sleeved jacket on soon. It's been a long day…

"Remember, settle down…" her voice drifted away as she turned and Joey leaned towards Yuugi.

"Hey psst Yuug!" he whispered, Yuugi nodded his head to let Joey know he heard him.

"What's the matter Joey"

"Umm where are we going for this 'holiday' anyway?"

Yuugi sent a questioning gaze towards the silent CEO who had somehow found his way closer to the centre of their group, "Kaiba?"

"Kaiba Corporation's private island. It's located away from all tourist destinations and no shipping lanes are nearby. It can only be accessed by private plane and yacht which is kept docked inside a natural reef barrier at a recently built pier."

Joey stared incredulously at Seto, "Private island? Yachts? Planes?" His mouth flapped open and closed like a fish then suddenly as if he was on a time delay he leapt into the air. "All right!"

Did you spot the slight hint at Hiding Away there huh? FYI, that also needs seriously updating…

YT