Disclaimer: Dustbunny... doesn't... own... YGO!

Dustbunny: I'm doing good!

Anzu: In your opinion

000000000000000000000

Ryuzaki didn't even bother retorting 'no, duh' before he took off, Anzu right on his heels. She didn't bother to reopened the umbrella since it could cause more trouble than it could solve. The goons followed after them, clumsy and cursing. As she ran, Anzu spun and knocked over the trash cans that rested near the mouth of the alley. She allowed a satisfied smirk when she heard the thugs trip over the cans and each other. She then scowled when she saw how far ahead of her Ryuzaki was.Just where did he think he was going? Distracted by the thought, Anzu slowed unintentionally. One of the guys who had managed to keep after the run-aways grabbed her by the arm and swung her into the side ofa building. Hearing her cry of surprised pain, Ryuzaki turned and saw what had happened.

Why me? he thought miserably. He hurried back in the direction he had come from, having no clue what he would do when he got back there.

As luck would have it, he didn't have to do much of anything. The wind picked up suddenly and pushed him forward yet again. This time, it was the thug he rocketed into. Caught unaware, the suprised man let go of Anzu's arm. Unfortunately for Ryuzaki, the guy got his balance back easily enough. Now he grabbed Ryuzaki by the collar and lifted him off the ground, pulling back his other arm and forming a fist. The terrified boy yelped and slammed his eyes shut, bracing for the impact. It never came.

Anzu had managed to pick herself up and find the umbrella. The man had been too preoccupied in collecting himself and dealing with Ryuzaki to notice her. Before the guy knew what was happening, Anzu swung the umbrella savagely and hit the guy squarely across his shoulder blades. Shocked and in pain, he dropped Ryuzaki- who was still miracuosly clutching the grocery bag- and fell to his knees. Ryuzaki, meanwhile, scrambled to his feet and dashed off like a bullet. Seeing that the other guys were finally starting to catch up,Anzu decide it would be a good idea to follow his lead.

While Ryuzaki was still ahead, fueled by his terror, Anzu somehow managed to direct him where to go. She finally had to grab his collar to stop him. They had reached her house. It was then, panting and wondering how many years had come off his life, that the stunned boy realized something odd- Anzu was laughing and whooping and didn't look like she could be happier. The boy wondered if she might have gone mad from fear. Then, calming down, she thrust her head toward her house to show that they were going in. Ryuzaki nodded, afraid to speak or argue.

"Try to tell me that wasn't a blast!" Anzu demanded of Ryuzaki giddily as she opened the door for them.

"That wasn't a blast," Ryuzaki said flatly as he eyed the girl. Something had obviously made her snap. Maybe she had banged her head against that building.

"Don't be such a spoil sport!" she chided with a giggle. "Thank you, thank you for being a cowering runt! I haven't gotten to play hero for years!" She did a little spin in the hall while Ryuzaki sent her a dirty look for what she had called him. He had helped her, after all. Anzu then got a look at Ryuzaki and her nose wrinkled up in distaste. "You're soaked!"

"You don't say," Ryuzaki retorted sarcastically as he respectfully removed his sneakers.

"I'm probably no better off," Anzu glanced at herself in a small mirror on the wall. "We both need to take a shower."

"Huh?" the boy squeaked as his imagination ran wild and his face lit up in a red glow.

"Don't worry, I have two bathrooms," Anzu said absently as she put away the umbrella, not noticing his reaction. "Come on. You can use the one upstairs."

This said, she took hold of the young man and (literally) dragged him up the carpeted stairs. He, meanwhile, opened and closed his mouth like a fish, trying to protest. He wouldn't deny that a shower sounded good but it seemed… wrong in the home of a stranger. And he wasn't so sure about Anzu's motives. The famous shower scene from Psycho crossed through his thoughts. And Anzu could be a peeping Tom for all he knew! She had surprised him already that day, after all.

Sensing the boy's resistance, Anzu kept a firm grip on his arm as she led the way to the bathroom. She stopped at a linen closet and grabbed a towel off the shelf. Then she pulled her hostage to the next door, obviously the bathroom. Placing the towel on the lid of the toilet, Anzu released Ryuzaki and started the flow of water. She then pulled the curtain closed and turned to exit the small room. Ryuzaki was still blushing and silent.

"Far as I go," Anzu mumbled as she left. "Put your clothes outside when you undress so I can dry them."

"Huh? Just a second there, lady!" Ryuzaki found his voice. "How do I know you won't burn my clothes or something?"

Anzu sighed and put on a too bright smile. "Because I'm a happy-joy-friendship girl who could never imagine doing anything wrong or remotely unkind," she gushed with mock cheer.

Ryuzaki cringed. "Point taken. Sorry," he muttered, hoping he wouldn't have to see any more of that particular type of sarcasm.

"Good boy," Anzu grinned. "Now hurry up; I need to do my clothes too."

With that she left the bathroom, leaving a grumbling Ryuzaki in her wake. The boy began slowly to unbutton the green shirt he wore, glancing occasionally at the door. After a moment's thought, he stepped forward to turn the lock. Task completed, he continued with the removal of his attire. An exasperated sigh was heard from outside.

"Did you die in there or what?" Anzu called, sounding annoyed. "Hurry up!"

"I am hurrying up!" Ryuzaki returned. "I just had to be sure that my privacy is ensured."

There was silence for a moment as Anzu took in the information. Then there was a loud laugh from the other side of the oak door.

"Oh, yeah, Ryuzaki!" she yelled with sarcasm and laughter still in her voice. "I see what you mean! I want your body so badly- I simply can't be trusted!"

"Well, at least you admitted it," he answered flatly, trying to seem like he didn't care. The only reply was a louder howl of laughter. Ryuzaki muttered and finished undressing.

"Okay, I'm undressed!" he called to his hostess.

"Thank you ever so much for keeping me posted," he heard as a response. He blushed a bit and grumbled some more. "Are you going to put your clothes out or what?" she said after a minute.

"Back off from the door," he ordered. More giggles were heard from the other side but he ignored them. Apparently Anzu realized he wasn't kidding because he heard an exaggerated sigh and the shadows beneath the door shifted away. Ryuzaki slowly turned the lock on the door. Then, quick as a flash, he opened it just a crack and pushed the pile of clothes outside. More laughing was heard. "No looking!" he called, knowing full well what he had put into her possession.

"Oh, but how can I help myself?" was the sarcastic retort. Ryuzaki did a re-take on the blushing and grumbling and hurried to the waiting shower.

0000000000000000000000

Dustbunny: Yay!

Ryuzaki: 'Yay?' About what?

Marshmallow: Uh oh... er, please review!