Milk and White Chocolate
Notes: Oddly enough this chapter was written while listening to Matchbox Twenty's 'Cold' on loop for…well, far too long to be normal. But it's a kick ass song, you know. This took about two hours and twenty-five minutes to write, so I made pretty good time. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Two
You Will Go Without
Outside they found Yugi, Yami, Ryou, and Bakura standing around and watching people mill about semi-aimlessly. The excited buss was only mild now but with every new person who stepped onto the campus grounds it seemed to increase.
"Hey." Ryou smiled at them widely. "You two are early. This have anything to do with those gifts you bought this weekend?"
"Uhh…" Jou scratched the back of his head nervously. "Maybe. Wait a sex…dey knew before me?" He glared at Tristian who suddenly became very absorbed in his shoes.
"Knew what?" Yugi tilted his head off to the side.
"Jou's made that he's the last to know that Honda's gay." Anzu supplied while pulling more chocolate from her bag-o-tricks (As Jou had mentally dubbed it.) "You guys remember, we were talking about it yesterday on the way to lunch."
"Oh yeah." Ryou's smile was bordering on a smirk and was faintly reminiscent of his darker half. "We thought it was kind of ironic that they two of you were both afraid to tell the other the same exact thing."
"You never felt the urge to fill us in?" The annoyance was plain in Honda's voice. "I don't know about Jou, but I was just a little bit stressed out about what he may think. I could have been saved a lot of grief if you'd said something."
Anzu, Ryou, and Yugi all had the grace to look contrite, Bakura kind of looked like he was enjoying the whole thing, but it was Yami who spoke.
"You have to understand that it was not our place to tell your secrets. We were confident that when the time was right you would resolve it."
"That was beautiful Pharaoh." Bakura sneered. "It's nice to see that someone other than your light has been rubbing off on you lately." He glanced at Anzu. "I wonder if the midget's jealous."
"I am not…." Yugi trailed off abruptly and frowned. Jou swore he could see the wheels in the smaller teen's head turning. Then Yugi gasped and went a dark crimson.
There was a moment of silence while Bakura's words, and their potential less than pure meaning, sunk into the rest of the group. Almost all of them went pink. Ryou was the first to respond, smacking his yami in the arm hard enough to make the fiend grimace.
"Bakura! Don't say things like that!" His dark's smile was both unapologetic and just a little bit dangerous. Bakura's hand darted out and latched onto his lights arm and a small wince crossed the albino's face.
Jou took a step forward to do something but Ryou just leaned into his light and his voice took on a very…husky note. "Bakura if you can't be nice I'll keep your Valentines gift."
"You got me a gift?" His grip on his light didn't lessen but his voice gained a curious tone. It was an amazing how fast his demeanor changed at the prospect at getting something. "Is it sharp?"
Ryou sighed then dug into the pocket of his jacket. He pulled out a folded paper, the high gloss suggesting a magazine. He handed it to his dark and clasped his hands behind his back when he was let go. Bakura unfolded it and his mouth almost literally fell open. Then he grabbed Ryou by the arms, pulling him in, and kissed him. Ryou's muffled yelp of surprise filled the air as he shoved at Bakura's shoulders in an attempt to dislodge the fiend.
Before it turned to a soft moan and he was pulling the other closer.
"Uh." Jou swallowed, through suddenly very dry. He may have liked Seto but he would have had to be a blind idiot to not appreciate that Ryou and Bakura were a…visually pleasing image. And he wasn't the only one because almost everyone who went past stopped for a moment to watch them.
Finally they broke apart and Ryou nearly pitched over. Bakura was nice enough to hold him upright, smirking at the glazed and vacant look the albino wore. He held his light then glanced over at Yami, smirk fading slightly.
"I'll be good."
The former Pharaoh looked skeptical to put it mildly, but nodded his apparent agreement none the less. That settled the tomb robber started to drag his unresisting light somewhere. Jou thought it for the best not to know where or what Bakura intended to do once they got there.
"Soo…" Honda muttered, blinking. "You're drooling." He shoved Anzu lightly. She flushed then shoved Honda back and cleared her throat.
"That…was interesting. Wish I'd had my camera handy." A slightly lopsided grin. Yugi laughed and shook his head in amusement before leaning against his dark.
"I got you a gift too." Yami looked down on him with a small smile.
"Oh? Do I get to see it?"
Yugi nodded and took his dark by the hand. "C'mon. It's…uh, private."
And once again it was just the three of them, with ten minutes to kill before class began. Anzu had a big slightly stupid grin on her face. She giggled and raked her fingers through her hair.
"Man I love this holiday. I wonder if Marik and Malik are around… Malik's always had the strangest weakness for sweets." The look on her face was nothing short of sinister. She was clearly plotting something. Then it was musing. "Then again I guess being underground and missing out on everything for the first decade or so of your life would do that to a person. Anyway I'm thinking-"
Jou's eyes slide away from Anzu and up to the deep blue corvette that had stopped in front of the school. The door opened and the busty blond he considered on of his closest friends slide out. About half of the guys on the campus stopped and stared, much to their girlfriend annoyance.
Mai was wearing a tight pink number. It looked like her usual style; short pink leather skirt, black shirt with pink laces, and a pink vest. She had a black wrapped box in her hand. Anzu was still talking but Jou was a bit too preoccupied with Mai.
What in the world was she doing here?
"Hey Jou." She flashed him a smile that was nothing short of smoldering. Jou had to admit that if he were straight he'd probably be a puddle of useless hormonal goo right about now. "Honda."
"Hi Mai." They both said with small waves. Anzu's eyes had gone as wide as plates and she tilted her head back to look back up at the blond.
"Mai! What're you doing here? You're supposed to be on a plane to Paris."
"Couldn't leave you hanging on Valentines babe." Mai winked. "What kind of girl would I be if I did that? I was thinking I'd swing back around lunch and take you off for a little quality time." As she spoke long arms twined around Anzu's waist and she found herself pulled back against Mai's ample chest.
The males who weren't looking were now along with more than a few of the girls."
"UH…but…school…umm…"
"It's only a day." Mai's lips were dangerously close to her ear and Jou could almost see the brunette's brain short circuit.
Anzu whimpered then nodded before squeaking. "Okay."
Mai beamed. "That's my girl. Here." The box was placed in her hands and then, with a light kiss to Anzu's temple, Mai was headed back to her car. Anzu looked like she might pass out any moment.
"I have to admit I didn't see that coming." Honda said mildly. "Are there no straight people left in Domino?"
"'Parently not."
(Didn't see that coming did you?)
Anzu's gift turned out to be an expensive looking locket. The chain was silver and the locket itself was silver with diamonds and rubies alternating around the edge. Inside was a small picture of Anzu with Mai's arms wrapped around her shoulder from behind. You could tell in the photo that Anzu was smiling up at the older woman.
She'd put it on immediately and had spent the past forty minutes smiling blankly at the wall.
Jou and Honda were proud to report they were the first to know about the two women's relationship, even if only because Mai felt like flaunting it. Yugi and Ryou had looked completely dumbfounded when they'd brought in Anzu, who'd been all but floating from pure happiness and chanting 'She loves me she loves me' softly.
Jou glanced over at the starry eyed girl and had to smile. He was glad she was so obviously happy with Mai, even though he was a tiny bit jealous. He glanced back at Kaiba who was just sitting back at his desk and smirking mildly at the long line of girls who were filing in to give him gifts and cards and candies. The line quite literally stretched all the way to the front door.
Not as impressive as Otogi's line of course, which contained girls from neighboring schools, girls from universities, and a few housewives by the looks of it. Jou found that he really felt for Honda who was staring out of the window at the impossibly long line of women that stretched all the way around the block.
The brunette looked on the verge of some kind of breakdown.
Yami and Yugi seemed just as popular, though most of the girls seemed to be more like Anzu (crazed fan girls who swooned when they say the purple eyed duelist curled up in his boyfriend's lap) then girls interested in dates.
Hell, even Ryou and he had a small line forming.
It was kind of scary.
There was a static laden crackling sound and then the principal's voice. "Due to the large amount of girls eager to drop off gifts to our students we must request that the following people move to the gym building. Kaiba Seto, Atemu Yami, Mouto Yugi, Otogi Ryuuji, Bakura Ryou, and Jounouchi Katsuya. Thank you."
They all sweatdropped and then got up, gathering up what they'd received so far. The lines of girls had already left in a sort of stampede for the aforementioned area. Before they could follow the teacher leapt up and slammed the door shut, looking frazzled.
"Now that those girls are gone the Valentines Party can start. All of those girls will be instructed to leave their various gifts at the auditorium and you can pick them up later. Mazaki-chan and Tasumi-chan were kind enough to bring refreshments so please, have fun." She smiled brightly then muttered what sounded like 'where the hell is my Prozac?'.
There was a moment of silent then the class, made up of about thirty-five students, burst into a flurry of movement, talking, and laughter. Jou just sighed and titled his head to regard the dozen or so things he'd received. Six heart shaped boxes of chocolate, two square boxes, one rectangular box, and three bright cards. Honda shuffled over with his own presents and pushed the empty desk to his over until they were touching. Anzu, Ryou, and Yugi followed suit. Otogi pulled a chair over, along with a basket of things he'd gotten.
"You came prepared." Anzu remarked while eying the basket.
"It's been like this since middle school. I'm just too attractive for my own good." He shrugged. "I give most of the stuffed animals to charities, recycle the cards, and put the candy up for later. Don't even really open most of it."
Honda went pale. "You don't?"
"If he opened everything he received he'd be at it until next year." Seto remarked. He had brought a chair and sat next to Otogi who nodded his agreement. "I let my secretary do it. I am kind of fond of the marriage proposals myself; they're always good for a laugh. I let Mokuba have his pick of things and then give the rest away to the staff."
Jou sighed suddenly feeling miserable. He should have known! Seto must have got tens of thousands of things on this day, how could he expect his little dinky gift to catch the CEO's attention. He was so fucking stupid. Why did he even try?
He shook his head and couldn't help a bitter laugh. Seto arched an eyebrow at him.
"Problem Mutt?"
Jou stared at him for a long moment then scowled and pushed his chair back. He stood up and, ignoring Yugi's call for him, left the room.
He half hoped insane fan girls mauled him.
Seto frowned in confusion then looked at them. Honda kind of scowled and looked at the ground.
"What's wrong with the Mutt?"
"He's disappointed." Anzu muttered. Her hand went up to finger her locket but instead she ended up brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "He'll be fine. Seto-kun why don't you open a few of these, for the spirit of things."
"I'd rather not." Seto shook his head some. "There is something unseemly about girls and women throwing themselves at me in this pathetic manner every year, even though I never responded or gave any indication that I want or appreciate the attention."
"Oh come off it." She sneered. "It's a holiday. Stop being such a depressing ass."
A long moment of stony silence permeated the group. Anzu wasn't the type to say something like that, preferring the 'honey' approach more than the vinegar one.
Honda smiled slightly. It seemed she was determined to get Kaiba to open some presents and, if he knew her at all, Jou's gift was the one she had in mind. She had conviction and he had to admire that. If she was determined to help the two of them Kaiba and Otogi didn't stand a chance in hell.
"Fine. Pick one, I've got dozens." He jabbed a thumb at his desk. Anzu was up and scrambling for one of the presents. She stood for a moment, finger pressed to her lips while pretending to be deep in thought then picked up the one Honda knew as Jou's.
He gave a mental cheer. Anzu was a worker of miracles.
She handed it to Kaiba then leaned over and dug into Otogi's bag. For a moment the green-eyed teen looked as if he might argue but one cool look from the girl and his mouth shut with an audible click. She pulled of the box he'd brought and set it in front of Otogi.
She smiled cheerfully. "Open them now."
Kaiba gave her a look like he was questioning her sanity but carefully unwrapped the gift. A cardboard box was inside and with a sigh he pulled open the lid. He peered inside and Honda saw his eyes widen just so.
"So, what is it?" Anzu said impatiently.
"I…uh…nothing." He shut the box and, ignoring them, tucked it inside of his bag. "Don't worry about it."
"Okay. How about you Ryuuji-kun? Open up."
"Yes ma'am." He mock saluted then ripped through the paper in a display that was the exact opposite of what Kaiba had done. Honda smirked at Anzu. So much for her nice wrapping job. Inside were a wooden box and a small key on a silver chain. Otogi unlocked the box then flipped it open. The first ting he pulled out was a delicate looking silver necklace. Hanging from it were two small dice charms, together coming to about the size of Otogi's pinky nail. He held them up and saw, with a small smile, that they were made of clear crystal and had the correct number of holes carefully dug in each side. 'Floating' inside of each was a small green gem.
"Oh wow. That's beautiful." Anzu's expression had become that of awe. "I've never seen any like it."
Honda flushed.
"I'd imagine not. These were hand made by someone very good. One of a kind if you want my opinion." Kaiba gestured and Otogi looked up, surprised. Honda was impressed that Kaiba had noticed that, but it was true. His grandmother was a jewelry maker in a small town on one of the other islands and she'd made it special for him.
It was one of a kind.
Anzu had been the one to suggest jewelry since Otogi had a definite liking for it. And, after steering him away from the navel ring idea (and scolding him for being a pervert) he'd taken the idea and kind of run with it.
"What else is there?" Yugi asked, leaning forward.
"Hmm?" Otogi blinked then looked down. A wry smile crossed his lips. "A box of my favorite tea. I was almost out too." Raspberry cream tea, which Otogi drank like it might not be around tomorrow. Honda wondered if he'd taste like the berries. "And a coupon for five free White Chocolate Mochas at Starbucks."
Otogi laughed and carefully laid everything back inside, closed it, and set it aside. Anzu smiled smugly.
"Aren't you glad I made you open it?"
"Yes, I am. Too bad there was no name on it." Otogi looked a little wistful then shrugged. "Even if it was a girl, I'd like to at least say thanks. Ask if maybe she has a brother."
While everyone laughed Anzu leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Very nice Honda. Who knew you had it in you?"
"Thanks. …I think." She just smiled and moved back into her own chair.
TBC…
Kupo: Thank you. I know a people aren't pro-Anzu so I'm trying to focus on her love of her friends without letting her talk too much…
Satisfied Frog: Well, I try to edit but it could be better. I will eventually go back and fix some of the things I missed, but thank you for the compliment. And the dice paper did sound cute. I kind of wanted some of my own to wrap…something in (don't know what…).
Yukiko: I'll try to update once every week (maybe sooner than that should inspiration hit or I get days off of school) but I can't promise anything. But I try.
Rachi: Honda and Otogi weirds you out? LOL. I think Chaseshipping is kind of cute. Way too much tension over a girl who's too young for both of them, in my humble opinion.
Shadow: Well she's certainly no bigot here. And I'm sure everyone picked up on why she's so helpful and understanding… Thought the Anzu/Mai thing crept out of no where. I was surprised when I wrote it… But yeah, Jou and Honda need a little romantic aid. Poor clueless boys.
Hershey: Thanks.
Freak: Ah, fellow kind of Anzu fans. Good to see. Sometimes I get lonely….
Misura: I had the strangest image while writing this of Honda covered in head to toe in tape, laying on the floor, unable to get up, with the box sitting a few feet away and wondering what the hell had gone wrong. He just seems like he'd be complete clueless in areas like this, though he managed to shock us all with that gift. (He had a little help of course, but it was mostly all him.)
Cross Hunt: Thank you. I'm glad to please.
Well, folks, thanks for the kind reviews. They make my day. So, uh…leave some more, please. And, wow, six and a half-pages. I surprised myself.
