So yea…. Guess who got hit by that new e-mail virus and that Internet worm? Guess who just finished setting up her new computer after hers was fried? Well, if you haven't gotten it by now, that would be me. I really didn't mind getting a new computer, I was supposed to get one for Christmas anyway, but it had been very time consuming trying to transfer everything from my old computer to my new. Believe me I sat in my bed room for like ever with a computer on my left and on my right trying transfer everything cause fanfics aren't the only thing I use my computer for. Try homework for my first English assignment at college. I haven't even gotten to the damn place yet and might have to tell my teacher 'my computer ate my homework'. Oh well.
On a lighter note, thanks to all who reviewed; Teafan123, kaz, Atlantis2 (got stuck with a stupid number too huh?), Lynderia, and Princess of Darkness and Me. It is appreciated. So I had the hardest time starting this story, hope it turned out well and you all enjoy this chapter.
By the way, some of the characters will have their dubbed names and others will have their original Japanese names. Why do you ask? Because some of the characters are from America and others from Japan….makes sense right? (Silence) Well then, that be all!
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She finished the paper work later than her fellow interns as she first speculated and was gathering her things to leave as night fell and he walked in. She was one of the last on the floor, save for a few janitors and other late workers, so she was surprised when the doors at the end of the hall opened. She was even more surprised when the boss himself walked in. She had only heard of him from magazines and News reports but she recognized the once child prodigy, now grown, CEO of the corporation she was interning for. The oddest thing of the whole encounter, flagged by hurried looking assistants the whole time, was when he noticed her. His deep eyes seemed to stare into her so much that they haunted her as she slept that night alone in her apartment. And when she returned to work the next day the eyes were still unknowingly watching her.
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She would have landed hard on her back as her feet were swept beneath her if not for her quick reflexes and more importantly her anticipation of the move. "You are getting slow and predictable Duke," Anzu called turning to face her advisory. Her sparing partner gave the tiniest of smirks on his hansom face.
"You wish," he taunted launching another attack on her. A small crowd gathered around the blue mats of the gym to watch Duke Delvin and his usual sparing partner Anzu Gardner go at it. Rumor had it about the Delvin Gym that the owner Duke had saved Anzu from a mugging and then offered to teach her everything he knew. However Anzu had severely beaten Duke after the incident and told the true story of how Duke had been hitting on her and she had kicked him in the shin. So he offered to 'help harness her power' and the friendship had grown from there. Though Duke still loved to tell his version with the mugging. Currently however Duke had Anzu's arms locked behind her back. The brunette struggled to get free. "Give?" he asked.
"If only you were that lucky," Anzu quipped back and suddenly went limp in his hold before quickly slipping out of the hold and turning and slamming her shoulder into Duke. For a girl her size and weight getting into a body-to-body contact fight with a much larger stronger opponent would normally be foolish. But Anzu knew she had Duke off set and used it to her advantage. As soon as he was on his back Anzu moved into a 'kill' position over him. Duke put his hand up in mock surrender. Around the mat a few clapped before moving back to their own exercises. From beneath her Duke spoke.
"It seems that the student had surpassed the teacher," Duke said in a fake voice, trying to imitate one of the old fight moves. (AN: you know the ones I am talking about right, the ones where the mouths don't match the words? My dad and I used to mute those and make up our own story lines. Ah good times, good times)
"Oh shut up," Anzu said with played annoyance. "You say that every time." She stuck her hand out to help him up. He nodded no.
"This is kinda nice, you bent over me and breathing hard. Kinda a fantasy come true." Anzu went red and she kicked him in the side. It wasn't the first time he had said something to that effect, yet it still got mad. Duke rolled over and rubbed his side. "I do hope you know that my health insurance has gone up since I started this so called 'friendship' with you."
"If I hit you every time you did or said something like that then you would be in a permanent body cast so don't even start on me." Anzu had by this time sat on the matt cross-legged and had her back turned toward him.
"There is a very simple way to fix that issue." Duke said sliding over to sit next to her.
"And that would be what?" Anzu asked with a smirk already knowing the answer to this very common joke between them.
"Marry me," Duke said simply without hesitation. Anzu laughed.
"What would you do if I said yes one of these days Duke?" Anzu asked raising her eyebrows to him.
"Well first I'd wake up, and then I'd sing from the rooftops, and then" but before he continued Anzu slapped him on the arm lightly.
"Save the romance novel for another day. I've got to get to work. Unlike you I don't get paid to sit around here all day." She rose and smiled down at the now sprawled out gym owner. "Life must be nice huh?"
"You know it is," he said almost sleepily and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Fine but I'm using your shower."
"Go for it, door's unlocked."
"It is amazing you haven't been robbed yet," Anzu called from the edge of the mat. Duke pushed himself on his elbows to hear and see her better. "Well see yea in a few, if I haven't been attacked by the robber up stairs."
"If you see him tell him not to take the beer!" he called to her as she slipped up the stairs behind the main desk that lead to his apartment upstairs. He smiled after her thinking of the times they had spent together over the past five years. The story he told of their meetings was, as most expected it, a fake up Anzu's was also a half-truth. He had first met her by hitting on her in a bar where she did indeed kick him. He offered as to teach her to fight in a half serious half pick up line type of way. She had left after that but less than forty-eight hours later her partner Yami had brought her to Duke's gym in hopes of teaching her some self-defense and fighting skills. The friendship, much to Anzu's initial disgust, grew from there and over the past five years the two had become close friends. 'Yet there is still so much I don't know about her' he thought and frowned. The only comfort to this thought was that the only person closer to her, Yami, probably knew as little. 'Well Yami and probably Yugi' Duke thought. After his friendship with Anzu had been cemented Duke had become friends with rest of Anzu's 'allies' so to speak. It had been a good couple of years yet as of late Duke had been thinking of Anzu's mysterious past. He of course knew the story of her escaping an abusive father back in Japan and then meeting with Yami at the police station. Yet it seemed incomplete and Duke knew nothing of Anzu before she came to America
He frowned as the object of his thoughts emerged from the stairs and sauntered over to him. "That was quick," he simply stated. She gave a shrug and ran her hands through her damp hair.
"Your hair drier is busted. I would think that with all of your curly locks that it would be and essential appliance." She smirked as he made a face at her. "Anyway if I catch my death out there I am blaming you," she tugged at the high the white turtleneck sweater about her neck in disgust. "I hate these things they are so annoying. If Serenity hadn't mentioned not seeing me wear it I," but she was cut off by Duke suddenly springing off the mats.
"Serenity's back from her trip to Atlantic city?" he questioned eagerly. Anzu rolled her eyes at him.
"You know what Joey will do if he thinks that you are going after Serenity again" Anzu cautioned but Duke was plainly already lost in thought of the pretty young college student. For the longest time Duke had only known Joey Wheeler as Yami's next door neighbor, the owner of a bar down town that Anzu frequented, and a man he really didn't care for or get along with. However upon meeting Serenity Wheeler nearly a year ago when she began to work part time as a receptionist in Anzu's office Joey Wheeler became the brother he had to get around. (AN: I really don't like Duke/Serenity romances. Frankly I don't really like Serenity, or Mia for that matter, but if Serenity needed to be with someone I'd like it to be Honda. But hell this is only the second chapter! See the possibilities?) Anzu shook her head in disgust. "I am out of here before those thoughts go any further" Anzu said walking away.
"Hey you still up for dinner tonight?" Duke called after her.
"Sorry no, I'm meeting with a new client today and want to get a head start on it," seeing his expression Anzu added, "you know how I am. Anyway tomorrow night?" Duke nodded and Anzu said her goodbyes before walking the four blocks to her office. When she arrived she was nearly knocked over by Moses and was bombarded by Ms Clay scolding here for being out so late. She detangled herself from both and moved to her office, Moses trailing her with his Great Dane like stride. Through the conference and into her and Yami's office she made note that her partner had come and gone by the cold coffee on his desk. Anzu did not move for much for the rest of the morning or into the noon hour. Moses followed the same pattern, only raising his head and flopping his tail at Ms. Clay when she entered to inform her that she was going on her lunch break. Anzu's lunch consisted of cold Chinese food and old Gatorade. The midweek and midseason slump was always a good time for Anzu to catch up on the paperwork that pilled on her desk and answer non-emergency calls. At around three o'clock though Anzu noticed an odd thing. She checked the clock on the wall and then her watch but both reported the same thing, 3:05, and no appointment. Anzu frowned but didn't have a moment more to think about it when Ms. Clay buzzed her that her 3 o'clock had arrived. Moses got up with Anzu and moved to the conference room where indeed a young woman was studying the various pictures and awards framed on the wall. She was actually a young, attractive, Egyptian, woman who carried herself with poise and strength.
"Can I help you?" Anzu asked putting a hand on Moses' back, which seemed to be tense with apprehension and not fear or distrust. The woman in question turned to face Anzu, and she took her breath in. The woman was indeed beautiful and obviously wise, confidence seemed to radiate off her. Anzu knew it would be a good story.
"Hello, yes, I'm your three o'clock. Victoria," she began but Anzu cut in.
"No you're not." The woman seemed surprised.
"Excuses me? What do you mean?" She asked.
"You aren't my three o'clock," Anzu repeated.
"I'm sorry but I don't think we have met. I'm not sure you can say that I'm not your client." The woman said all of this as a challenge that Anzu was up to.
"My three o'clock is an older woman and her obsessive compulsive husband, meaning they would have been here as soon as it was three. That is the first reason that you are not my three o'clock," Anzu crossed her arms and returned the challenge. But she smiled confidently back at here.
"I'm there granddaughter, I came in for them," she stated. Anzu shook her head.
"Impossible. The Ventre's have one grandchild, a two year old out in Washington. So you see how this is a problem. Also if the Ventre's where going to be sending someone in their place, which they wouldn't, they would not send a woman of Mid-Eastern descent. Mrs. Ventre is a bit of a bigot and since she saw the towers fall has directed that toward Arabic Americans. The Ventre's are looking for someone that they believe is Mr. Ventre's long lost son after a one-night stand in the WWII era. I doubt you are old enough to have been apart of the Cold War. So this is just a few of the reasons why you are not and could not be my three o'clock. Would you like the complete list, I can go on." The stranger looked flabbergasted at first before smiling at her.
"Well Shadi did say you were the best," she said. Anzu raised an eyebrow at the name.
"What do you know of Shadi?" she asked.
"Probably as much as you do, he is a very mysterious man. May I sit?" she asked indicating to the chairs at the table. Anzu nodded but made no move to sit herself. Instead she moved to the center of the room to better face the mystery woman. "You must be wondering what I want," she finally said. Anzu didn't move. "My name is Isis Ishtar and I need your help Anzu Gardner."
"That's why most come to me," Anzu said simply. Moses, against her legs still, felt the same tense feeling down his back and Anzu took note, not letting her guard down. "So you took care of the Ventre's?" Anzu asked letting her curiosity get the better of her. The woman nodded, black hair falling about her.
"Yes, I called and rescheduled your appointment, I hope you aren't busy tomorrow at eleven" she said almost coyly. Anzu did not return the favor and Isis sighed tiredly. "Miss Anzu, time is of the essence, otherwise I would not make such a move. Especially for a woman in my 'position' I should say." Realization dawned on Anzu at that moment.
"Ishtar? As in just had an show at the British Museum of Natural History Ishtar?" The woman smiled a pretty and disillusioning smile.
"I see you keep up to date on matters of culture" she said with an air of superiority that grated on Anzu for some reason.
"I like to keep up on all matters," Anzu returned quickly. "Now, lets stop running circles and you tell me what the hell your business is here." As she spoke Moses sat at her feet, panting and clearly still trying to decide if Isis was friend or foe. Anzu, was in debate as well.
"Well, as I mentioned earlier Shadi recommended you to me," she paused as if waiting for something but Anzu didn't even move a muscle so Isis continued. "I need your expertise in a case that is very personal to me. In fact it involves my only living relative, my brother Malik." She took a moment to stare at her hands as if trying to decide the words she was about to speak. This intrigued Anzu because Isis Ishtar's reputation preceded her. She was the director a museum show which was highly regaled as the best of its kind. She was also a forerunner in her field of Egyptology and was revered the world over for her intelligence in not only that field but subjects untold. And here she was, struggling for words in Anzu's tiny office on a dreary Wednesday afternoon. The thoughts both intrigued and chilled Anzu. Finally Isis seemed to find her words, "You see Ms. Gardner my younger brother has been accused of committing a crime that I am sure that he was not able to commit."
"What makes you so sure?" Anzu asked in a pessimistic manner.
"You just have to have faith in certain things and I am certain of my brother's innocence" Isis said all of this with such certainty that Anzu almost felt herself sway from her professional neutral view onto her side, almost.
"Well to help you Ms. Ishtar I need all of the details and a down payment, my secretary will assist you with that. Do you know if the police have a file on it and if so, which department so that I can get a hold of it."
"That won't be necessary," Isis told her stranding and pulling three thick files from the brief case she had carried in with her. Anzu couldn't help but be slightly impressed at the woman's ingenuity. Anzu stepped forward and took the files from her and began leafing through the top one. "That is all the research that I have done myself on the people involved and information that I thought would pertain to the case. Anzu flipped through until she came to the most basic report she was searching for, the police report. Anzu stopped as soon as she read the first few lines. She handed the folders back to Isis in a hurried manor.
"Sorry, you will have to find another investigator, I trust you can see yourself out" Anzu told her this and then turned to walk back into the office, Moses trailing her. She felt a slim hand grab at her but Anzu pulled herself away and closed her office door with an unprofessional 'bang'. However Isis didn't seem done with her yet and followed her in, all politeness aside.
"Excuse, but I believe that I deserve an explanation," she commanded angrily. Anzu sat at her desk with a sigh and picked up a packet of paper on her cultured desk.
"It is simply my own personal policy, I can recommend a perfectly qualified investigator if you are interested."
"No, you are the best. I want you," Isis pleaded, all composure gone.
"I don't do rape cases Ms. Ishtar. And now I must ask you to leave" Anzu rose to move her out but Isis looked as if it would only take God himself to move her.
"I am doing this for my brother, I won't take no for an answer," she said her voice shaking slightly. Anzu felt a pang of sympathy but quickly push it aside.
"Ms. Ishtar, it is nothing against you or your brother. It is simply my policy and my partner's. I don't take on victims or accused rapists," Anzu told her. 'Though this is the first time I've ever had an accused rapist on my hands.' Anzu was used to the occasional broken girl or their family coming in pleading with her to help find the attacker. She had even had the family of a young boy come in once, that had broken Anzu's heart tenfold as she imagined Yugi as the little boy. For a while, all the cases that Anzu wouldn't take Yami would but it didn't take long for he too to grow sour over the cases and he stopped taking them on.
"But he didn't do it, I just know he couldn't have" Isis said interrupting her thoughts. There were tears in her voice and Anzu felt her own throat tighten up. 'I can't do this,' she thought 'I just can't. I promised myself that I wouldn't go back there. But this woman,' Anzu thought desperately. Moses looked up at her with his warm chocolate eyes, and Anzu knew the answers immediately. 'You have to put the demons away eventually,' something called in the back of her head. Anzu bowed her head in defeat.
"Alright," she said so quietly that she barely heard it. Isis looked up from where she was staring at the floor, black hair free falling about her.
"Excuse me?" she inquired hopefully.
"I'll do it," Anzu told her for the first and only time. Something changed in Isis's eyes at that moment and Anzu could read it plainly, relief.
"Thank you, thank you so much" she breathed. Anzu felt regret begin to pool in her stomach as she thought of what she had jus taken on.
"I'll tell you the same thing I tell everyone," Anzu said well rehearsed, "I guarantee nothing. But I will do my best." From the look on Isis face Anzu knew that that was all that she wanted.
"Again thank you so much, I won't take anymore of your time," Isis said as she moved toward the door.
"Ms. Ishtar," Anzu called out to her and the woman paused and turned.
"I'm not sure how much I can do but I will try," Anzu said making a promise she wasn't prepared to make. Isis's wise black eyes studied her face.
"You are fighting your own demons aren't you Ms. Gardner?" Isis asked and Anzu did not answer. After a moment Isis continued, "Please, call me Isis."
"And I am Anzu," Anzu said returning the favor. "I'll be in touch Isis"
"And I with you Anzu." There was an understanding suddenly between the two woman though Anzu was unsure if she had just made and ally or an enemy.
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A half an hour after Isis Ishtar had left the offices of Anzu Gardner and Yami Motou. She hurried through the busy streets of down town Manhattan at a surprisingly quick pace. But as shown earlier in the office of Anzu Gardner, she was determined woman. Glancing at her watch she knew that she would not be on time to her four o'clock by walking and decided to risk the temperamental speed of New York City traffic. She hailed a cab and was tended to almost immediately. She had no sooner given the driver her destination than her cell phone ring. She answered with a polite hello and was surprised by the voice at the other end.
"So how did your appointment with Ms. Gardner?"
"Shadi?" Isis questioned, and the driver turned in response.
"Yes?" Isis only blinked at him in surprise before hurriedly telling him that she was talking to a man on the phone. (AN: Little bit of a stereotypical humor there….aka Star_Chan being very stupid!!) Isis hurriedly turned her attention back to her tiny silver phone.
"Is that you Shadi?" She questioned.
"You sound surprised to hear from my Isis," came the simple response.
"It isn't everyday that I hear from you Shadi, what do you expect?" Isis quipped. She then paused in thought. "How did you know of my appointment with Ms. Gardner?" she asked curiously.
"I received a very angry letter in regards to your visit from her only moments ago. I would just like to both congratulate and warn you on a few matters." Isis did not respond and so Shadi continued. "I would like to first congratulate you on persuading Anzu to take your case. You must have been very persuasive." Still Isis did not speak, ashamed in the fact that the only reason Anzu had taken the case was from pity. "Secondly I must warn you not to dip into Ms. Gardner's past. The end result will not be good for anyone."
"How did you" Isis started but Shadi cut her off.
"I know that way your mind works Isis. Anzu's past is for her alone. She is a good woman and a valuable ally to those she smiles favor on."
"You talk as if she had some great deal of power in the world."
"In the worlds that matter she does. She has stolen countless men's hearts and is cause for intrigue the world over," Shadi told her. 'Though she doesn't even know how far her influence reaches' Shadi though to himself. "Heed my words Isis," he said knowing full well the intrigue that must be boiling up within her, "let Anzu do her work and let that be that." The line clicked dead on Isis's end as Shadi hung up on her. Isis's insides still boiled as she walked up the steps into the MET. 'What have you done Ms. Gardner as to cause the passive Shadi such intrigue?' Isis thought. 'This is worth a look into,' the normal perceptive Isis thought, not realizing that Shadi set up.
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"Ms. Gardner, you have a call on line two," Ms. Clay called through the interoffice phone nearly two hours after Isis had left Anzu and the files on her brother's case. Anzu didn't respond to her secretary but merely picked up the phone and punched the blinking number indicating line two.
"This is Anzu Gardner, how may I help you," Anzu said tiredly through the receiver.
"I believe that question is how may you serve that NYPD Ms. Gardner?" an all too familiar voice responded on the other end. Anzu jumped up out of her chair, successfully knocking it against the wall behind her, causing Moses to jump.
"Lieutenant Duggan?" Anzu whispered into the phone unbelieving.
"Your memory is good Anzu," the older man said on the other end. Anzu suppressed a moan as he own boss continued. "Let me get right to the point Ms. Gardner, there was a little matter that went unresolved those six years ago when you were," he paused for a moment, "removed from our services."
"You mean after you fired me," Anzu said her temper getting the better of her.
"Yes, that is it. You see the matter was never resolved. And I believe that it is time that you we fix that." Anzu grimaced in anticipation.
"So what? Are you going to sue me? That is usually done through legal services is it not?" Anzu asked deciding that if she was going to go down she might as well go bravely. On the other end of the line Lieutenant Duggan clucked.
"You and I both know that if I needed to side step a few legs of the legal process I could."
"So am I not in jail right now?" Anzu questioned.
"Because that is too messy, and besides I've never disliked you Anzu, in fact it is quite the contrary. Anzu was feeling sick on the other end of the line.
"You aren't implying what I think you are implying are you because I would like to inform you that all these calls are tapped." The truth of the matter was that the calls weren't called but Anzu wanted to scare the Lieutenant. He laughed again.
"Don't flatter yourself. I am happily married," he told her and Anzu rolled her eyes and he continued. "No, what I'd like to offer you is a deal." This intrigued Anzu.
"Deal?" Anzu asked.
"Yes a deal. You see, you reputation has grown these past years and we would like to offer you a deal to settle this little misunderstanding between us." Anzu snorted and Lieutenant Duggan continued on as if he hadn't heard her. "We would like your assistance on a case, in exchange for us permanently forgetting about the illegal activities you performed in our office."
"Illegal activities," Anzu repeated in disbelief.
"Yes, illegal activities. Lets try tampering with police evidence, misuse of NYPD property, invasion of victim confidence, shall I go on?" Anzu bit her lip hard not to say anything. "That's what I thought."
"What is the case?" Anzu asked tiredly.
"A rape case, we've got a suspect but no evidence that will undoubtedly convince a jury on either side."
"No" Anzu said firmly
"Excuse me?"
"Has that word lost all meaning today? I don't do rape cases," Anzu said firmly. 'At least not after the one this afternoon,' Anzu thought dejectedly.
"I don't believe that this is an option," Lieutenant Duggan said on the other side of the phone. "I'm not sure that you understand the severity of the situation here Ms. Gardner. Or do I need to send over some officers to see you right now with a warrant for your arrest?" Anzu smiled at the concept.
"So basically you are blackmailing me?" Anzu asked.
"I don't feel the need to call it that."
"So what do you have riding on this?" Anzu asked.
"I have no idea what you mean," he said this confidently but there was a slight quiver in his voice that Anzu wasn't even sure she could confidently say was there.
"Alright, I'll play your game for now Duggan. But know this," Anzu felt a thrill down her spine, "I will find out what is really going on."
"You won't find anything there Ms. Gardner," he said. "Just cop doing his job."
"You said it yourself, I've gotten myself a reputation and that reputation does not lie."
"I suppose that it is your choice to waste your time Ms. Gardner."
"Whatever, send me the file. And you had better hoped you coverd your tracks well," Anzu cautioned.
"Is that a threat?"
"Threat is such nasty word. I'd like to call it hopeful persuasion," Anzu said
calmly though her insides were quivering with anticipation, like a wolf on the hunt.
"The basic file is being faxed over as we speak. Good day Ms. Gardner." There was resounding 'click' in Anzu ear and she knew that she had gotten to him. That would be important if she wanted to stay onto of the game. Still contemplating the phone call Anzu crossed her office and conference room to the fax machine in the secretary's office. She pulled the top paper away as soon as it finished, the ink still slightly. Anzu's mouth dropped open in shock.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
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"No way" Brittany Ronners said as she blew on her coffee the next morning as she and Anzu Gardner, and Anzu's dog Moses, walked down the street away from the vendor in front their apartment building. Anzu and Brittany lived across the hall from one another and Brittany was one of Anzu's closest girl friends. They had run into one another that morning as Anzu headed into the office and Brittany to her job in a Real Estate Law Office. Anzu could not resist telling her what had happened the afternoon before. She had not seen Yami or told Joey as she sat at his bar the night before. "So let me get this straight. You are guilted into taking this case," she paused as if waiting for confirmation.
"Basically," Anzu said taking a sip of her drink.
"Then you are blackmailed by the NYPD, into taking another case."
"Yes."
"However it is the same case that you took for this Ishtar woman. Now one side wants you to prove the suspect innocent and the other wants you to prove him guilty."
"That's the jest of it, yes," Anzu said as they came to and intersection. The two paused for a moment, studied the flow of traffic before moving across, Moses keeping in stride the whole time.
"So what are you going to do?" Brittany asked loudly as a taxi blared its horn at them. Anzu shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess just have to go about it like I normally do," she said stepping onto the curb of the other street.
"You've done this before?" Brittany asked with a laugh.
"No, I mean I'll go at the case with a neutral attitude. And not tell either what I am doing," Anzu said smiling behind her steaming cup. Fall had snapped on the city the night before and pre winter rain drizzled from the sky. Anzu would have killed for it to Friday but instead a Thursday loomed in front of her and she knew it was going to be an 'interesting' day. As they reached the street where they were to part ways the two woman stopped and turned to one another.
"Well good luck with that," Brittany said raising up her coffee in an ironic salute. Anzu returned the favor.
"Tell me, what is it like to have normal everyday job?" Anzu questioned.
"Absolutely dreadful. I'm working on the environmental zones for a new Mini
Mart in Jersey. Tell me what is like to be a private eye with a life of adventure that all dream about?" Anzu smiled at her.
"Unbelievably stressful," Anzu said with a smile and the two friends parted ways.
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"You've got to be kidding me!" Yami exclaimed from across their office as he looked back and forth between the two files.
"My exact words," Anzu said leaning back in her chair. In the corner Moses lifted his head from his pile of blankets, trying to dry off from the morning's walk, and watched the two disinterestedly. Anzu felt the same way.
"So what are you going to do?" Yami asked watching the brunette from his desk. Anzu was leaning back, her head hanging backwards so she was staring at the ceiling.
"What can I do? I'll just do both," Anzu said this so simply that Yami had to process the words for a moment.
"Excuse me?" he asked surprised.
"What?" Anzu asked leaning forward and letting the two chair legs slam unceremoniously onto the floor. "I mean what else can I do? The police have got me in a corner, as much as I don't want to admit it, and the Ishtar's are paying a hansom fee. And you can't say we don't need the money." Anzu looked at Yami with the last statement and he turned his eyes away from her. With the slump in the economy and Yugi's private school Anzu knew that money a constant weight on his mind. And Anzu knew that Yami's cut from the case would help ease his discomfort. It would also set her up for a while. She benefited from the case whatever way it worked out, so did Yami.
"You sure you want to risk a law suit on either side? I mean Ishtar finds out what you are doing and you are screwed. Same thing with the police!" Yami threw his hands up in frustration at his partner's lackadaisical nature over the whole situation. He shook his head at her and continued, "It is just too risky to work both ends. Tell Ishtar that you changed your mind again." Anzu glared at him from across the room.
"It is not that big of a deal Yami, I seem to be dealing fine with it and it is my dilemma," Anzu said.
"No, I know it isn't fine cause you are being overly serious and you always get like this when you've got a problem but you don't want to admit it," Yami accused and Anzu looked away silently cursing him for knowing her so well.
"And?" Anzu prompted wanting to know the rest of his thoughts about the situation.
"Well, if you really won't drop either case then I'll take on Ishtar" Yami said with a hint of reluctance that Anzu could just barely notice. Anzu felt her heart soften just slightly and she got up and moved to the other side of the room that Yami was now standing in. She wrapped her arms about his chest from behind in a good-natured hug. She laid her head on his back and she could feel him give an all mighty sigh.
"I won't make you do that. You've got enough on your plate as is," as she spoke his hands laid over hers enveloping her in warmth that she shuddered against. They stayed like that for a moment more until Anzu loosened her grip signaling him to let go. He gave her hands another squeeze before letting her go. "It will be alright," she said smiling up into his eyes. Yami could see himself reflected in her blue pools and wanted to reach out and give some shape to completeness that she always seemed to offer him when he felt emptiest. She moved away from him toward the door saying, "its 11 and now I have to meet the actual Ventres'." She grinned as she spoke and Yami couldn't help but smile back at her.
"You drive me crazy," he said semi seriously.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Anzu said with a laugh and then she was gone securing the door soundly behind her. Yami looked at the door for a moment longer before looking at Moses who was still in the room.
"I would," he said almost wistfully, "but don't tell." Moses yawned and closed his eyes to sleep, giving his opinion on the matter.
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I really don't have a lot to say. College is time consuming and I am still dealing with some 9/11 anniversary feelings. The next chapter of 'Thinking Over' will be out soon as well. That is all. I hope you guys enjoyed.