Chapter 3

Truth and Consequences

Yugi kicked a stone with his foot as he walked down the sidewalk. He hadn't quite reached the rendezvous point where he was to meet his friends, and he still didn't exactly know how to tell them about Anna. He dreaded the whole situation; he just wanted it to be over.

"Partner," a vision of Yugi's alter self appeared beside him. Only Yugi could see him, but that didn't make him less real.

"You've been very quiet the past two days; I could have used your help." Yugi said in a distressed tone.

"It was not proper for me to interfere, she is your fiancee, not mine."

"You could have at least supported me. I probably looked like a fool. And yesterday at lunch when I spilled my drink all over the table and almost choked to death on that shrimp." Yugi winced, recalling the previous day's events. "I'll be surprised if she's even willing to admit I'm her fiancé."

"I think you under estimate her."

"What do you think of her?"

"My first impression is that she is spirited and very intelligent. She has a vast knowledge of many things, and that is asset."

"Well, it's a good thing she knew the Heimlich Maneuver, or I'd be dead." Yugi pounded his chest slightly with his fist. As if clearing his lungs of shrimp particles could also rid him of the memory.

The walk was silent for a moment. Yugi looked over to his counterpart. "What's the matter, other me?"

"I can't help but think that I know her from somewhere."

"You think we have met Anna before?"

"I don't think we have met her, I think I have met her. I'm not sure. It's just a feeling. I can't say why."

Yugi was about to respond when a familiar voice interrupted him. "Yugi!" Yelled Anzu as she waved to him from the corner. Yugi looked up to see Anzu standing with Joey and Honda. Looking back to his side, he noticed his other self was gone.

"Hey everyone!" Yugi replied with a smile and a wave.

As they came closer Anzu chimed in, "Where have you been? We haven't seen you all weekend."

"I've been busy." Yugi replied

"Oh, the King of Games is now too important to hang out with us normal people, huh?" Joey said teasingly and slapped him on his back.

Yugi's reply and conversation was tentative as they walked to school. The others could tell something was not right with him. And when Yugi went to cross the wrong street, they became worried.

"Umm, Yugi, that's the wrong way. The school is this way." Anzu tried to politely point out his mistake.

Yugi turned and pointing to the next block and said, "We need to go this way, I have something to do."

The group followed him obediently but once on the other side of the street Anzu couldn't help but ask, "Yugi, are you all right? You looked distracted. Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine; I just have a lot on my mind." Yugi answered, not looking back.

After a block Joey stretched his arms in the air and placed them behind his head. "So, Yugi, what exactly is it you have to do?" This was as subtle was Joey could be.

"We have to meet someone."

The three looked at each other curiously. "Who are we going to meet?" Anzu asked innocently.

"It's hard to explain right now, we are almost there, then I'll tell you everything."

The three of them couldn't understand Yugi's reasoning, but they trusted him, and let him lead the way. After another block, Yugi stopped in front of an apartment building. Staring at the door, he just waited.

"All right, we're here," Joey blurted. "Where is this mystery man?"

"Here she comes." Yugi could see her through the glass front door.

'She!' the word ran through Anzu's mind and her head twitched at the very thought. Her suspicion turned to full anger when Anzu spied the young lady who exited the building and walked up to Yugi.

"Good morning, Yugi! You're right on time." Anna cheerfully greeted him. Yugi was relieved that she didn't stand him up. He wasn't sure what kind of impression he made on her. And, although he didn't know it at the time, he was happy to see her.

The reaction of Joey and Honda to the girl's presence was very different from Anzu's. If they were cartoons, their jaws would have hit the floor and their eyes would have popped out of their heads. Honda wasted no time. He rushed over and took her hand in his. Kissing it he dashingly pronounced "my name is Honda, and it is an honor to meet such a lovely young lady."

Suddenly an inaudible noise came from Joey as he sprung between them, breaking their connection. "Be careful ma'am, this guy is an incurable liar and very dangerous. Don't believe a word he says. I know for a fact that he has a girlfriend, and.... bad hygiene. You don't want to get anywhere near him."

"Girlfriend?" Honda queried. And in a smart-ass tone replied, "Oh you mean Serenity?"

"What?!" Joey shouted. "I told you before; you stay away from my sister!" What unfolded was a battle of fisticuffs and noogies between the pair.

Anna didn't know if it was polite to laugh at them, especially seeing how Yugi looked embarrassed by their actions, and Anzu was yelling at them to stop. As the war raged on Anna succumb to her urges. She leaned over to Yugi and said, "So where is the third Stooge?"

Yugi and Anna burst into a roaring laugh. Hearing the commotion the fighting ceased instantly with Joey in mid-headlock.

As the laughter died down Yugi decided it was best to make introductions. Pointing to each in turn, "This is Anzu, that's Joey, and you've already met Honda." They all returned Anna's welcoming smile, all except Anzu, who was still suspicious. "Everyone, this is Anna."

"And how exactly do you know Yugi?" Anzu demanded in a course tone.

Anna gestured to Yugi. "Anna," he took a deep breath. "Is my fiancee."

Dead silence.

Suddenly Joey broke in, "Oh, I get it! It's a joke! Yugi's pulling our leg!" Honda and Joey chuckled and slapped each other on the back.

Amid the laughter Anzu commented in a deadpan voice, "It's not a very funny joke."

"It's not a joke." Yugi insisted.

Dead silence once again.

"How is that possible? We haven't seen you in two days. How could you get engaged in two days?" Honda questioned as Joey stood dumbfounded and Anzu steamed.

"Apparently, I've been engaged for years. It was an arranged marriage our parents set up. It was a surprise to me too. I didn't even know until Saturday when Anna arrived. You have to believe me, I wouldn't have kept any of this from you. You're my best friends." Yugi held his breath waiting for a response.

"You're really engaged?" Joey questioned. Yugi just nodded his response.

"Wow...." Was the only word Honda could come up with.

Anzu was visibly angry, "It can't be. People don't arrange marriages anymore. It's a barbaric tradition that died out a long time ago. They can't make you marry some stranger."

"Actually," Honda injected. "Arranged marriages, which are deep rooted in most Asian cultures, are still performed to this day, although, not as often. If done by a certified Matchmaker the arrangement is considered a legal bond and must be executed like any other business transaction. In other words, the law states they have to get married." Everyone just stared at Honda. "What? I read! I did a paper on it last term."

No one knew what to say. The shock of the announcement had thrown them all for a loop. Joey was the only one brave enough to speak. "Then congratulations are in order!" He announced to everyone. Grabbing Yugi and throwing one arm around his shoulder and the other arm making flailing gestures Joey added, "Our boy Yugi here, is going to be a married man. Think of all those heart broken girls out there that will need consoling."

"Don't worry about those other girls," Honda continued. "Joey and I will be more than happy to comfort every single on of them in their hour of need." Joey' face perked up and he made a subtle gesture to Honda to show he agreed.

"If you guys don't mind, I'd like to keep this whole engagement thing quiet. I don't want people at school knowing. No offense, Anna."

"None taken." Anna understood exactly what Yugi was worried about.

"Speaking of school," Anzu butted in. "If we don't get going, we are going to be late."

"Oh Geez, you're right!" Cried Joey, looking at his watch. "If I'm late to homeroom one more time, it's detention for a week."

The group made it's way down the block. No one wanted to talk much. Anna was very uneasy for she could feel Anzu's eyes burning a hole right through her.

"You know you're going to have to get a school uniform. They won't let you attend classes dressed like that." Anzu targeted her words at Anna.

"I don't go to school." Anna glanced over to Anzu.

"You dropped out?" Anzu questioned in a triumphant voice.

"I graduated early. I now work for my Uncle in his office." Anna was trying to be polite; it was obvious that Anzu didn't like her.

"So, you're his secretary? Or perhaps you work in the mailroom?" Anzu was getting worse by the minute, and Anna was getting fed up with her antics.

"Not exactly," Anna was holding her tongue. "I work in the 'I.T.' department. I write programs, decipher codes, build firewalls, and have been known to hack into some government owned computer systems."

Breaking into computer systems? Yugi didn't realize Anna had such a bad side to her.

When they reached the gates of the school, they made an agreement to meet after school. Everyone split off to go to his or her perspective lockers. But Anna wasn't about to let Anzu get away after the way she acted. Once the boys were out of sight, Anna followed Anzu around the corner.

Once the coast was clear of too many prying eyes, Anna approached her from behind and said, "Hey Anzu! I think we need to talk."

Anzu swiveled around and huffed, "I don't think we have anything to talk about. You get Yugi, and the rest of us get the boot. Did I miss anything?" With that Anzu turned and started walking away.

"Don't you dare turn your back on me!" Anna grabbed her and swung her around. "You don't like me, I get that. But this isn't about me. It's about Yugi. Neither of us had a choice in this marriage, and I'm not going to let you blame him for something that is not his fault. If you care for him, which I think you do, you'll accept all this and let Yugi know you support him. Hate me, if you must, but Yugi needs you."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing.

"I'm late to class;" Anzu snorted as she walked away.

"And I have to go to work."

All day long Yugi was distracted. He couldn't concentrate on his schoolwork. He could tell that Anzu had been very angry this morning. He wasn't sure how he was going to smooth things over between them. The bell rang signifying the end of class. Yugi gathered his books and stepped out into the hallway. He scanned the groups of students as they passed by, then he saw his target.

"Anzu!"

Anzu heard her name and turned to see who had called her. It only took her a moment to see Yugi jumping and waving at her. His height always made him a little hard to see in a crowd. Anzu wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to him, especially after the way she had acted. But she knew she couldn't avoid him or her guilt. They approached each other, Anzu's head was held low.

"Anzu, I...." Yugi began

"No, wait, I want to say something first." Anzu intruded. "I want to apologize for the way I acted this morning. I was totally out of line. I was afraid that having her around was going to change things. We are all so close; I didn't want anything to come between us."

Yugi seemed relieved. "I understand it was a shock. And I don't blame you. You should have seen me, when I found out," Yugi said with a smile. "But no matter what, we are still going to be friends."

Anzu nodded and smiled back.

"Give Anna a chance. She's really nice. I think you two would get along great. She likes the arts, and theater, and she's really smart, and..." Yugi began, but was cut off by Anzu.

"You two just met, how do you know so much about her?"

"Well," Yugi scratched his head in embarrassment. "I spent a lot of time with her this weekend. We talked about everything."

"So that's where you were hiding all weekend?" Anzu teased him.

The mood was much lighter for the rest of the day. Yugi and his friends met up for lunch, and obviously the subject was Anna. Yugi was less on edge, especially when he saw how Anzu seemed more interested in the conversation, and didn't criticize her. That afternoon they met up with Anna after school and went out to eat. The guys were instantly smitten by her charms. It took Anzu a little longer to warm up to the situation, but she seemed to come around by the end of the meal, and especially after Anna picked up the check. Yugi didn't talk much that afternoon. He was quite happy to just sit and watch. He was extremely pleased to see his friends get along with Anna.

That evening, Yugi walked Anna back to her apartment building.

"That was fun, you have some great friends, Yugi."

"Yeah, I like them too. And they seem to like you a lot."

They stopped in front of the door to the building, and Anna turned to face him.

"Thanks for a terrific afternoon." Anna said sincerely. "Pick me up tomorrow morning?"

Yugi nodded his response.

"Good night, then," Anna turned and headed toward the entrance.

"Hey Anna!" Yugi called after her. Anna turned to him. "If I have to marry someone, I'm glad it's you."

"I think that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." With that Anna walked back down the steps and kissed him on the cheek. Yugi's face turned many shades of flush. Anna gave an almost evil grin and went into the building.

Yugi took a deep breath and headed home. Life just got a whole lot more interesting.