Tammi: Over a hundred reviews, I think I'm going to die… But, that can't happen now can it? Heh, well, I am absolutely ecstatic that you guys love this story so much. And thanks Egyptian-Enchantress… I would love to join your ADA group! ^-^ Wow, all of you are so wonderful – You even knocked me outta the depression I've been in lately. So which is why I'm hitting you with another chapter, so read and enjoy!
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Sometimes
Chapter 08 – Trouble Times Four
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"This is absolutely amazing!" Ailee screamed out over the loud music. She grabbed Marik and took him over by the other dancing teens.
"I have to admit, this party is a lot better than I thought it'd be!" Anzu shouted, giving it thumbs up sign. Ryou nodded, as they continued to dance to the hardcore music.
Dancing with the white haired teen was a lot different than Anzu thought. She had been to a couple of parties with Yugi, Yami and Joey, so this kind of music she was used to, but Ryou… Ryou never went with them to these parties, they weren't his type of place, however you wouldn't be able to tell by how comfortable and in place he seemed at this moment.
'I never knew Ryou could dance to rock… He's such a mystery.' She smiled some as she danced, 'Leave it to me, to have a group of friends with hidden features.' She thought, referring to Yugi, and his new habit of being wild… And Marik certainly has changed in the past day…
And now… Now it was Ryou's turn to surprise her. She stopped dancing, and stood there a bit depressed, Ryou immediately wrapped his arm around her, "Is something wrong?" He asked, in that sweet soft voice of his. Even in this loud warehouse, she could hear the worry and concern…
She smiled, "I just… Everyone is changing you know? Everyone is changing into someone different. Yugi used to be a bit clumsy and silly… Now, he comes to these kinds of parties on a regular basis… And then Marik-"
"Hey, come on… This isn't the place to talk about this… Let's head outside for a moment, alright?" She nodded, and he guided her out of the back doors, to where you could see out across the ocean.
They sat by the shore, and stared out into the distance, "Alright… now… I know how you are feeling, Anzu. But, you shouldn't get discouraged; we all change as we grow. It's a part of life.
She nodded, "Hm... I know that… But, if we all change, we will begin to drift apart. Yugi and Yami have become very good friends, and Yugi has changed to a sort of party animal… But, I'm not like that… Don't you see? Pretty soon… He will leave the group… And, if I stay friends with you, then there's no doubt Joey will drift away too."
Ryou nodded knowingly, "How true. But, I would not wish you to lose your friendship with anyone, not even Joey… But, I suppose you can't promise to be together forever, can you?"
A tear fell from Anzu's eye, "And then, there's Marik… He and I used to be so close, and now… In one day it all changed…"
Ryou draped an arm over her shoulders, "Marik is going through some things, and give him some time to get his act together… If you give him time, then I have no doubt that you and him will be together. Old friends complicate things, and so, you shouldn't push or worry about them, because then things will be even more difficult…"
"Do you think I'll lose Marik's friendship?"
Ryou was silent for a moment, "No and yes."
Anzu looked up at him, "What?"
"Well, you and Marik will always be a part of each other's life, no matter who comes and goes, because I have watched you and Marik… How the both of you react to one another and I know Marik is being an idiot at the moment, I believe he will choose you over some girl that dumped him some time ago."
"What? She dumped him?"
"…Yeah in Egypt... They were a couple, until she left suddenly without a word to him, not even a good-bye."
"And, he still is hanging out with her?"
"Anzu, it's difficult and hard to understand."
"Yeah, but Ailee hurt him, worse than I could ever, so why? Why would he be with her, rather than with m-" She shut herself up.
"This world we live in is a harsh one. During life, you experience pain, agony, loneliness, happiness, joy and deception… And so many other emotions, but sometimes… Sometimes people make promises in hopes of stopping even more pain from coming."
"What do you mean?" Anzu asked, sitting up.
Ryou didn't look at her, but out into the calm waters, "Over time people change, they either grow stronger or weaker… Everything over time changes for better or for the worse, but what about promises? Do promises fade?"
"Promises…?"
"Yes. Some people make promises to assure the other that they will follow through, others make them to get the other relaxed and relieved… But then there are some who make promises out of friendship, to save their friendship…"
Are you saying, Ailee and Marik have some kinda promise shared between them?"
He nodded, "You should know, that I went and visited the blonde Egyptian earlier…"
"You did? What did you talk about?"
/// / / /// / / / / / / / / / / // ////
"Hey, Marik! So ya changed your mind 'bout comin' huh?" Joey inquired.
"Hey Joey!"
Joey spotted the beautifully tanned girl hanging on his arm, "And, who's your date?"
Marik winced, "Well, my friend here, is named Ailee. Ailee, this is Joey, the one I told you about earlier."
"Hi, Joey. It's a real pleasure to meet you." She shook his hand, and blushed as he kissed hers.
"Hey, Joey, where did you disappear off to- Hey, Marik, I didn't know you were coming!"
"Hi, Yugi, hi Yami. This is Ailee, a friend of mine. We were raised in Egypt together." Yugi and Yami said their hello's and talked a little bit about what they had done since they arrived.
But, their fun was halted when a certain white haired boy came walking in alone, and passed them. 'What's Ryou doing here?' Marik asked himself curiously.
Ryou didn't see them, and walked up to a nearby waitress, getting two blue drinks, and chatting a bit with her, before she was called over by someone else. Ryou looked up and then sighed; He opened up one of them, and then took a drink. He looked at the other one, and then smiled.
Marik was the one to spot him, and even now his eyes were glued to him, Joey and the others turned around to see what the hell he was staring at, only to see Ryou. "Oh, that's what I wanted to tell you guys…"
Everyone turned their attention to Yugi, "Tell us what?"
"Ryou is here at the party."
"Well, we know that now." Marik replied sarcastically.
Yugi gave him a mean look, "Yeah, but did you know he's here with Anzu?"
Joey had just taken a drink of his beer, when Yugi said that, and the beer was now all over Yami. "What?! How the hell did Ryou score a date wit' Anzu?"
"They aren't on a date." Marik replied coldly.
Yugi tilted his head, "I wouldn't be too sure about that… They were dancing awfully close before…"
Marik glared over at Yugi, who turned his gaze away. Marik then stood up and stomped over at Ryou's retreating form, before Ryou could disappear into the crowd, Marik grabbed him by the arm and turned him around.
"What is your… Oh, Marik… What are you doing here?" Ryou asked, shoving Marik's arm off.
"Are you here with Anzu?"
"…"
"Don't just stand there giving me the silent treatment! Answer me!"
Ryou gave him a bored look, "Yes, I am. But, that shouldn't matter to you, now should it?"
"Look. I told you before that I love Anzu, and I do. So, you shouldn't have the right to-"
"The right to what…? Date her? Hello, Marik, you don't own her."
"I wasn't going to say that. It's just…"
"Look, she's just outside those doors. Take this to her, and talk to her."
Marik stared at him confused, "What?"
"Talk to her. Tell her how you really feel… And don't hold anything back."
"I can't…"
Ryou punched him in the face, causing Joey and the others to run over, "Hey, what the hell's your problem, Ryou?!" Joey shouted, shoving Ryou back.
Yugi and Ailee helped Marik to his feet, and were a bit shocked when he pushed them away. "You guys, go back to your table. Ryou and I are fine. We are just having a little talk, now leave us." He ordered.
"But, Marik…" Joey began giving Ryou a glare.
Ryou didn't even give Joey a second thought as he brushed himself off, "Go. You heard Marik… We are better friends than you think. So mind your own business." He said, sending Joey an icy gaze.
They hesitated a bit, before Yami sighed, "Come on, let's leave them to their privacy." And so all of them walked off… Well, almost all of them.
Ryou's eyes narrowed, "You need to leave too." He growled.
Marik turned his head, and saw Ailee standing behind him, "I'm not leaving him alone with you."
Ryou folded his arms, his brown eyes could cut through metal, but yet Ailee still tried to act unafraid. Marik shook his head, "Ailee please go join the others…"
"No, Marik. I'm not going to leave you alone with this maniac!" She shouted.
Ryou laughed a little, and stuck his finger at her, "Listen here, girl… This is between my friend and me. So leave us right now." His voice was cold, despite the innocent smile on his face.
"Who do you think you are?! I can stay if I want to, you jerk!"
"Ailee, go, now."
"Ah… Marik…"
He turned and faced her with straight lips, "I said go! Would you just listen for once?!" He shouted, and she walked off, on the verge of tears.
"A little harsh on her weren't you?" Ryou asked, dropping his hands to his side.
Marik shook his head, "Whatever."
"Humph. So, are you going to go or not? By now Anzu's probably growing worried, and I really don't want to leave her out there all by herself, so are you going?" Ryou asked, and watched Marik take the drink.
"I'll go, but what about…"
"Don't worry about her. I'm sure she won't mind hanging out with Yugi and the others while you're with Anzu… No hurry up and go talk to her!" He pushed Marik into the proper direction, and watched him disappear out the door.
Ailee saw him leave and ran back to chase after him, but as she had gone by Ryou, he grabbed her by the arm, "Hey, let go!"
"You aren't going anywhere near Marik, you understand me?"
"Marik deserves to be happy, and I can make him happy."
Ryou pulled her close to where their faces were only inches apart; rage and frustration were obviously running through him, "You listen to me, Ailee. You aren't going to bother Marik or Anzu. Because they belong together, now do you understand?"
She whimpered a bit, as he showed no intention of letting go of her, "You are an obsessed freak!"
"And you would know wouldn't you? Now come on!" He ordered, pulling her by her arm; in the opposite direction of Anzu and Marik.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" She shouted, but her shouts were drowned out by the music and laughing that surrounded them.
"I'm just ensuring my two best friends happiness." Ailee tried to break free, but this boy was a lot stronger than he seemed. And that soft whisper for a voice, only helped mask his masculinity.
Before long they were out of the warehouse…
Marik walked over and stood behind her, he hung the drink over her head, and she took it. "What took so long?" She asked, not bothering to turn around. But when no answer came she stood and turned, her face dropping, "Where's Ryou?"
There was bitterness in her tone, and Marik sighed, "He's inside. Anzu, you and I need to talk. I- There is something – no a lot of things – I need to tell you. Will you please listen?" He asked, biting his bottom lip. Anzu gulped and set down the drink.
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End Chapter
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Tammi: Ok, see you soon with the next chapter! Oh, and as you probably can guess now, that this might end up a Marik/Anzu story… But, then again, I have a lot of ideas rushing through my mind. ^_- Please review! Later!