Tammi: That's a really good idea, imikitte, very good suggestion. ^-^ Well, we'll see what happens, ok. Kayrie and Umiko Morimoto, good job on realizing that Ryou is starting to act a bit like Bakura. And, as far as killing anybody, I don't know about that Sakura-chan… I'll hafta think a little on that one. Well, thanks all of you, for reviewing my chapters. Here is the next one, so enjoy.

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Sometimes

Chapter 06 – Two Unwelcome Encounters

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4:38 p.m.

Anzu's Home

     Anzu continued to go through her clothes, one by one discarding them. "No, this one is too 'church girl', this one is too 'school girl'… This is the one I borrowed from Mai a long time ago…"

     Ailee drove with a very livid expression, "I can see what Marik sees in her, but that doesn't mean he should be with her… She may look all innocent and sweet, but I know that's just a cover-up. And, I know, she's out to ruin my relationship with him.' Ailee smiled as she pulled into Anzu's driveway…

          /// / / / / / / ////    ///  // / / / ///

     Ryou drove along the road in a bored manner, 'I wonder if Marik is home…' His face dropped to that of an irritated one, 'What a loser… I don't care how good of a friend, this _Ailee_ is, he disrespected Anzu.' Ryou changed his mind about heading back home, and instead drove toward Marik's home.

     Marik entered his home, all the lights were off, and so Ishizu and Rishid were obviously not home. He frowned, "Great… Just when a sister would be useful…" He sighed, and lay down on the couch located in the living room.

     Staring up at the ceiling, his face saddened, 'I'm sure Ailee is right, but, still what I did was wrong… I'll need to apologize to Anzu personally… Anzu… How can I treat her so wrongly, when I care about her so much? I do care about her, but I care about Ailee too… So, I'm actually wronging both of them.' He sat up and sighed again, and then walked upstairs to his room.

     He removed all of his clothes, and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

     Ryou glanced down at his watch, 'It'll take me about another ten to fifteen minutes to get there… And then, I'll head home.' He thought to himself.

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     Anzu was still choosing her outfit for the party, when a knocking came at the door. She put down her clothes, and walked downstairs in a good mood; she didn't bother looking into the peephole, and opened the door with a surprised look on her face.

     "Hi, Anzu, may I come in?" Ailee asked, in a gentle sweet tone that seemed a bit too cheerful.

    Anzu nodded, "Come in, please… Um, If this is about what happened this morning…"

     Ailee stepped in, heading for the living room, "Yes, this is about what happened earlier today." Her voice wasn't as cheery as before, and had a bit of annoyance tied to it.

     Anzu picked up on that, and narrowed her eyes. "I want you to know, I'm not mad at you, I mean I really hope you and I-"

     Ailee turned to face her, "I'm glad you aren't mad at me. Because, you have no reason to be mad at me… Or Marik, either. In fact, if anything, Marik should be upset with you." Her tone now revealing anger and malice.

     "Hey, what's with the attitude? And, what do you mean; I don't have the right to be angry? You two ditched me, remember?"

     Anzu placed her hands on her hips angrily, Ailee only glared, "You should never have been there! You stupid, third wheel! Because of you, I couldn't have a more pleasant moment with my boyfriend!"

     Anzu slapped her hand out of her face, "Boyfriend? You two just reunited… I'd hold off on that title."

     "Why don't you ask him, how close we are? I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you how happy he is with me… Oh, but I bet that just hurts you, now doesn't it?"

     "What? What is that supposed to mean?"

     Ailee smiled, as Anzu's face was flushed red, "I saw how 'happy' you were when we ran into each other… It was like the sky was falling. You like him, don't you?"

     Anzu jumped back, "Marik is my friend."

     "Yeah, and thanks to me, that's all you will ever be. But, then you are nothing but a thorn in our relationship. That's why I'm here…"

     Anzu stared at her confused, "What? Why are you here?" Ailee smiled sadistically. Anzu stepped back just a bit, 'What happened to the nice person I met this morning?'

// / / /  /// // ///  ///  /// /  // / // //    /// //

     Ryou pulled into Marik's driveway, stopping with a sudden screeching noise… 'Well, I'm here in half the time, I had thought. Although I should never do that ever again…' He said, referring to all the red lights, and stop signs he had passed.

     'Why did I do all those things? That just isn't like me…' He stared up at the large house, which was owned by the Ishtar family… After glancing around and not seeing any of their cars, except for Marik's he nodded. 'Good. Marik's alone.'

     Marik had just put on some dry clothes, when he heard a loud screeching sound, like a speeding car coming to a stop. He stared out the window and saw Ryou approaching the home… "I suppose I can't avoid him… He's mad too, I bet… He always protects Anzu, like an older brother would…" He sighed, and headed down toward the front door.

     // / /   //  ///   /// / //  //  ///  ///   / /   //  ////  //  ///

     "You see, Anzu, I don't like you…"

     "Really? Because, I could've sworn that you loved me." Anzu replied sarcastically.

     "Look. I know you think I'm crazy, or whatever, but I really am not. I understand that the heart gets confused, and sometimes, people mistake what they feel for something else. Such as in your case… You think you love Marik, right?"

     Anzu didn't reply, "I think you should leave…" She said instead.

     Ailee turned her back to her, and shook her head, "But, you don't really love him in that way. You think you do, but, your feelings for him are only that of a friend's love. But, my love for him, and his for me, that's real love."

     Anzu grabbed her by the arm, and spun her around to face her, "What makes you so sure, huh? How do you know, what my feelings are?!"

     Ailee pushed her down to the ground, "Because I said so. And, think about it… How can you love him, when you don't even know him?"

     Anzu looked up confused, "What are you talking about?"

     "Anzu, honey, I know him inside and out; His every secret, his every fear, and his heart." She bent down and cupped Anzu's chin in her hand… "Tell me, what is Marik afraid of more than any other thing in the world?"

     Anzu opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't.

     'Ha! I told you! Now, you listen up, Anzu… I am the only girl who will be in his life, and no other!"

     Anzu pushed her hand away again, "And, so what? You want me to just disappear off the face of the earth? Well, newsflash, that's impossible!"

     Ailee smiled, "Now, I would never ask you to do that, silly. All I want you to do is stop seeing him. That shouldn't be too hard, now should it?"

     "Listen, I am still his friend no matter what! I'll stay and you can't make me!"

     Ailee stood up straight and sneered down at her, "Too true. I can't make you leave… But, can Marik?"

     Anzu got to her feet too, "He would never ask me to leave."

     "He will. You'll see." At that, Ailee slapped Anzu right across the face.

     Anzu gasped, and returned the slap. Ailee threw her down onto the floor…

// //  //// / /  /// / /  // /  ///  //  / // / /

     Marik opened the door, ready to hear Ryou's scolding tone, but what he heard was a lot worse than he had been expecting…

     "You really are a bastard, aren't you?"

     'Did he just cuss?' Marik asked himself, as Ryou pushed his way in.

     "I thought you were cool, Marik…"

     "Hey, I know what I did was wrong, but I apologized for what happened…"

     Ryou hit Marik in the back of the head, "I'm not talking about how you deserted Anzu, moron. I'm talking about how much of a pig you are!"

     Marik rubbed his head, "What the hell, is your problem?!"

     Ryou ignored his 'friend's' whining, "How can you say those things one day, and then go and get in a relationship?"

     "Hey, uh… Ailee and I aren't officially a couple! And, it's not your problem!"

     Ryou's eyebrows twitched, and before Marik realized it, Ryou had grabbed him by the shirt collar, "Anzu is my friend, she's upset, she's heartbroken, and you are the cause… You, my other friend - Supposedly… Thus, this is my problem. Now, do you recall what you told me, not three nights ago?"

     Marik shoved Ryou off of him, "I remember! What the heck has gotten into you?"

     "Humph! I don't need to be explaining my actions to you, you traitor!"

     "Traitor?! I didn't betray anyone!"

     "Are you so sure? Not even your own heart?"

     "What?" Marik asked, startled by both Ryou's behavior and his words.

     Ryou sighed, "You told me that you were deeply in love with Anzu… You wanted to be with her, but weren't sure if you should ask her out. That was like two or three nights ago, so why? Why are you with Ailee?" Ryou said a lot calmer than before.

     Marik relaxed just a little, "I haven't said that Ailee and I are together, but you just don't understand… I grew up with her; she knows everything about me, without me having to remind her… Don't you see?"

     Ryou slapped him, "You are in love with both of them? You are a swine."

     "I didn't say that… I'll admit that I love Anzu, she is beautiful, smart, and I could never think of hurting her… But, Ailee and I were together, when she had to leave. Don't you see? I told her that we would always be together, I can't just break that promise to her now."

     Ryou laughed out loud, "Don't tell me I'm hearing this right…"

     Marik stared at him puzzled, "What?"

     "You really are unbelievable. Look, I think it's sweet that you would remember something like that, I really am… But, come on, that was a long time ago. Things were different then. Marik, love and relationships shouldn't be based on the past or promises… Relationships… Good relationships are based on love and trust."

     "Are you telling me to hurt Ailee? I can't do that."

     Ryou gave him an annoyed expression, "If you really want to ruin your life, by kicking a great girl – the girl you say you love – to the curb, and then go ahead. Maybe I can be with her instead."

     Marik clenched his fists at those words, and punched him square in the face. Ryou fell to the ground. Marik immediately regretted his impulsive actions, and froze.

     Ryou slowly stood, and gave Marik a sly smile, "Don't get all mad at me. If I ask her out, you can't stop me… You are too busy keeping promises to those who deserted you once before."

     Marik glared hatefully at Ryou, but the white haired boy, smiled innocently at him, "I'm only giving you a hard time, because of our friendship, Marik. Unfortunately, our great friendship seems to be nothing more than a thin line, huh? But, listen, this girl, Ailee, I haven't seen her yet…"

     "Then you should stop speaking of her, like she doesn't matter." He hissed.

     "I know, I shouldn't - It's rude, I know, but listen… You have told me the story about you two before, remember? And, no matter how much you defend her, whatever nice things you say… She deserted you, and that's the simple truth."

     "…"

     "So, if you're with Ailee, because you want to regain what you shared in the past, before she left, that's foolish. You and Ailee can be soul mates, yes, that's what I believe, but you two as lovers...? I just can't see that."

     "Get out… Get out of my house." Marik growled.

     Ryou sighed, and left without another word. Marik stood in his place until, he heard the sound of Ryou's car fade away. He then picked up a book that had been sitting on the table, and threw it. "I hate this!" He shouted.

     Suddenly, the phone rang. Marik walked over and lifted the receiver… "Hello?"

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End Chapter

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Tammi: Please tell me what you guys think… Review!

Later!