Authoress Notes: ::waves energetically:: some good news minna! RYOU APPEARS IN THIS CHAPPIE! Hope everyone's happy! ^__^ Oh, yeah, also this: I'm planning an Anzu shrine, where all Tea/Anzu fans can gather and plan world domination! MWA-HA-HA-HA! LOL. Just kidding. It'll be a place where we can post all fan art and fics that are Pro-Tea/Anzu. I'm going to ask Rakuen if I can post her rant on it as well. I'll plan more later. The site is going to be called 'Apricots & Cream', cause 'Anzu' means 'apricot'. Either that, or the title 'Sweet Apricots' could work too.

            Oh, and, I just want to send a shout out to Magicman/Smokegirl. You two are the best. It's your reviews I look forward to the most! Your reviews are always hilarious and cheer me up! (Not that I don't appreciate the ones form everyone else. ^___^) You

            That's enough babble from me.

I don't own Yugioh or Duel Monsters. They belong to Kazuki Takahashi, 4Kids Entertainment and Konami.

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Dreams of Innocence

Chapter XVII: Late-Night Visitors

            Ryou snuggled up under the blankets, trying to keep warm. The Millennium Ring was lying on the nightstand beside the bed, quiet.

            DING DONG!

            "Hmm...wha?" Opening is eyes and sitting up wearily, Ryou rubbed his eyes. Someone was ringing the doorbell. Pulling back the covers, he climbed out of bed, wearing boxers and a white t-shirt. Leaving the Ring on the stand, he stumbled out his room and into the living room. Grabbing the doorknob, he opened it. Ryou blinked once, then twice.

            "Malik?" he stammered, eyes wide. The blonde-haired boy smiled sheepishly at him.

            "Hey Ryou. Listen, can I come in?"

            "S-sure! What's wrong?"

            "Come on Anzu," spoke Malik gently, helping the girl inside. Ryou was beyond disbelief as he watched this but then he gasped. Anzu's cheek had a large black and blue bruise and also some dried blood on her face. Closing the door behind the two, Ryou took action.

            "Let me get some water running," he told the two. "Make yourselves comfortable on the couch." Nodding, Malik lead Anzu to the couch who sat down heavily on it.

            In minutes, Anzu was drinking a hot cup of tea while Malik and Ryou were talking privately in the kitchen.

            "What happened?" demanded Ryou. Malik traced the rim of the cup with his finger, sighing.

            "I was in the park when I saw Anzu walking towards me. She told me that her father had gone psycho and attacked her, as well as her mother."

            "Her father?" gasped Ryou and the other nodded.

            "But that's all she told me." Ryou glanced into the living room at the girl, shaking his head.

            "I mean, Yuugi told me yesterday that her parents are getting a divorce. Now I see why...by the way, did she mention where she had run off to last night? Yuugi, myself, Honda and Katsuya were out late trying to find her in the rain." Malik coughed.

            "Uh-well...she was with Isis and myself." Ryou stared. "Look, Shadi found her and brought her to us."

            "But I thought you were out last night? Didn't you tell me that on the phone yesterday?"

            "Yeah, I was. I saw her this morning." {Right next to me in bed, at that.} The albino-haired boy raised an eyebrow, noticing the faint blush on Malik's cheeks.

            "Am I missing something?" he inquired with a smirk.

            "W-what? Oh, it's nothing!" Ryou said nothing but just smiled, shaking his head. Inside the living room, Anzu was drinking her tea, Emi curled up in a ball on her lap, sound asleep. She petted the kitten absentmindedly.

            {Oh dear God, please...take care of my mother. And help my father. Please.} she prayed, tears welling up in her eyes.

            "Anzu?" The brunette turned to see Ryou and Malik coming over to her. "What happened?"

            Looking at her tea, Anzu took a deep breath. "When I had gotten home today, my father...he blew up at me, shouting at me. My mom tried to calm him down, but it just got him even worse. Then, he slapped my mother across the face and tried to attack me. I had gotten away and spent the day at the library.

            "Then, I snuck back home around ten o'clock. I decided to run away fro good, so I packed some clothes and stuff. But I made a mistake and made a noise, which my parent's heard and came running. My dad, by then, was beyond tamable. He completely lashed out at me, slapping me in the face and punching me in the gut. Then, he slammed me against the wall. I don't know what else he would have done if my mother hadn't stopped him. So, I took Emi and ran for my life." She choked on a sob, closing her eyes. "I just hope my mother is okay...I-I don't know what happened to turn him into such a monster..."

            "Where's your stuff?" asked Ryou gently.

            "I-it's by my window. I had tossed them out before my dad caught me."

            "Where do you live?" spoke Malik, both to his and the others' surprise.

            "Seventeen Oakview Drive. Why?" But Malik was already making his way for the door. "Malik! What are you-"

            "I'm just going to get your stuff. There's no way you're back there, not after what your dad did to you." This shocked Anzu. Her eyes were wide and shining, unshed tears waiting to fall.

            {Is this the same Malik from Battle City?} she wondered.

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And, with you're guys approval: Mariku tormenting/killing Mr. Mazaki! HAHAHA! ^_^ ~LadySaturn aka Sanji