a/n: you guys love me and you know it.. (wink)
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh but I do own a small island that is full of hott Jrockers like Hyde or Miyavi.. (sighs) Okay, no I don't but wouldn't that be great!
Chapter 18: Scandalous Stances
A few days went by after the restaurant incident. She heard nothing from Seto and he heard nothing from her. She didn't know whether to be upset or not. They weren't anything but him and that woman were obviously something. Lorena called her a few times asking about a certain CEO and that if Anzu needed to talk, she could always call Lorena. Anzu took the week off from work and was busy with the boys so she knew that she would not have much time to talk or see Lorena.
How Lorena caught wind of the Seto and her not seeing each other, who knows, but she had a hunch. Those reporters from the other night, they probably took pictures of them. If that was the case then there were pictures of Seto and that woman looking like they were in love, thus making Anzu look like a fool to those who have seen her with Seto at her job. Not that that was the reason why she was mad. She could care less about what other people thought. They never saw them do anything, except for Lorena. She was mad for other reasons. Reasons she thought that she had no right to be mad about. Which made her all the more confused.
Why can't she be mad?
Because her and Seto were never official.
Didn't they mean anything?
No, Seto was just looking for a good time.
Why was he with that woman?
Because she was probably some rich important, beautiful person.
Why didn't he explain himself, at least call her or something after she saw them?
Because he was too busy being with the nameless blonde.
Anzu went down the street to buy some eggs when a familiar something once again caught her eye. When would he leave her alone? On the stands next to the check out counter of the small grocery store was a tabloid picture of Seto and the blonde woman driving away. The woman was laughing and Seto was looking to his side away from her as if he was checking if there were any cars beside him. There was a headline that she didn't bother to read and other pictures on the bottom right corner of the front page with more pictures of Seto and his little 'date'. Not helping but to take the tabloid with her, she paid for her things and walked back to her apartment quietly so that she did not wake up Jounouchi or Yugi. Unfortunately Yugi was already up. They all have been going around New York seeing anything and everything that by the end of the week they were tired out but still interested in the Big Apple.
"Hey." He said as he made himself some coffee.
"I'm going to make breakfast. Eggs, bacon, pancakes; the whole shebang." She smiled at him which he returned.
"I'll start it. You have been cooking everyday this week. Go relax, watch television or read your magazine." At that moment Yugi took the tabloid and handed it to her but stopped when he saw the CEO on the front cover. "Is that…?" He sat down on the chair in the kitchen and looked at the picture. "CEO romanced by future CEO; If she can't do it, no one can." Yugi read the title after a whistle. "Who knew." He then looked up at a slightly red and embarrassed Anzu. "Why are you reading this?" Shrugging, she snatched the paper away from him and walked to her bedroom.
"It caught me by surprise. I didn't even know Seto.. Kaiba lived in New York with me."
As promised Yugi cooked breakfast and didn't take Jounouchi long to wake up from the living room floor to smell the cooked items. Meanwhile Anzu was flipping through the tabloid and saw more pictures. One of Seto leading the woman, named Marissa, out of a restaurant. Another of Seto and Marissa walking down the street, her with sunglasses to cover her eyes and Seto with his usually business suit attire. He had one hand on her back and the other hand shielding his eyes. She was dressed casually, with jeans and a long white coat. The second to last picture was of them in the restaurant from the other night holding hands across the booth. The picture she already saw without being printed yet. The very last one was Marissa's back facing the camera and Seto facing the camera. He was holding her and her hands were wrapped around his neck, the both of them looking like they were kissing. His eyes were closed, her head titled as well as his. Looking very much like they were kissing, blowing a punch to Anzu's heart.
"Son of a bitch." Muttered Anzu. She put down the tabloid, her heart not taking the abuse anymore. This tabloid was a few days old. No wonder Lorena called her to see if she was okay. Anzu was oblivious to the whole thing, until now. When did this happen? When? Anzu sat on her bed looking blankly at her comforter when Jounouchi ran into her bedroom.
"Good morning sunshine!" He yelled out making her jump up and almost fall out of the bed. "What's this?" He said as he jumped on her bed and took the tabloid to read it. "Yugi told me about this. Can you believe it? Kaiba with some chick who can stand to be around him for more than just five minutes. She must be a saint to deal with his shit!" Anzu got off the bed and stood next to it with her head down. Anzu could stand more than just five minutes with Seto. Right now, she didn't think she could. "It says that they have been linked together before but now they have proof. Look at them kiss!" Having enough of the whole thing being shoved in her face by her own friend without him knowing it, she growled in frustration.
"Why do you care about Kaiba's love life? Didn't we hate him in high school?" She shouted making Jounouchi look at her in disbelief. At that moment Yugi came in but stopped when he heard her shout.
"What is going on?" He asked. Neither Anzu or Jounouchi had an answer.
"Sorry." She whispered softly and walked to her bathroom.
She was losing her cool. Seto was making her lose her cool, in front of her friends no less. The pictures were too much for her. Seeing that girl kiss him was too much. That girl was supposed to be her. Did the girl know about her? Was the girl falling under the same spell Seto put on her? It was all so confusing. She couldn't lose her mind over this though.
"Anzu, are you okay?" Yugi asked from the other side of the door.
"yea. I just can't stand that jerk." She muttered from inside the bathroom. A knock on the door was heard a few seconds later.
"Well, come out. I made a big breakfast and we're going to eat it." Opening the door a little, Anzu smiled.
"I'm sorry." She said once again.
"Don't worry about it. I know you're mad because you're going to miss us. We'll miss you too but fighting on our last night will not do us any good." He then opened the door more and pulled Anzu into a light hug. "Let's enjoy the time we have together." He talked into her hair. Not wanting to tell hi the real reason why she was mad, she made him think that her missing them was the reason.
"Thanks." She breathed into his neck. All this time she didn't realize that Yugi had grown up. He know stood a head taller than her. When did this happen.
"Anzu, are you okay now?" Jounouchi asked from her bed. Letting go of Yugi she ran over to Jounouchi and gave him a toppling hug. "Hey! There's better ways to tell me you're okay!"
Anzu wished that she could tell her closest friends why she was really upset but they wouldn't understand. Especially Jounouchi. He would have a fit. Yugi might be upset with her but would try to understand her situation. For now she would have to grin and bear her pain. For now she would have to pretend that her heart didn't feel like it was being torn in half. For now she would have to wait for the answers.
As promised on the last night Yugi, Jounouchi, and Anzu all went to her job and danced the night away. They all had to wake up early the next morning but it didn't matter. Lorena luckily did not work that night. If she did she would be asking Anzu a billion questions. The other people who worked with her gave her a questioning look but when she introduced her friends to them they did not say a word. When she returned to work they would surely come to her and ask her on a more appropriate time about the CEO.
Halfway though the end of the night Mars came with a few of his friends. As she danced with her own trouble thoughts melting away, she felt a presence behind her. It caused a chill run down her spine. Turning around she saw Mars behind her with a smile on his perfect mouth.
"Been a while. Why haven't you been in class?" He asked with a fake stern look.
"Friends from Japan came and I had to play host." She yelled out over the loud music.
"Oh. Are they here?" Yugi was already behind her and Jounouchi got lost in the club with some red head. "Is he one of them?" Mars asked pointing towards Yugi. Turning around, she pulled Yugi forward.
"This is Yugi, my best friend. Yugi, this is my teacher and friend Mars." They shook hands and said hello.
"Anzu, I'm going to find Jounouchi. I'm afraid he'll forget he has a girlfriend." Yugi joked and said goodbye to Mars before walking away.
"Are you going back to school next week? You missed a little, not that much. I'm sure you can catch up easily." Anzu nodded and slightly blushed by the compliment.
"Thanks. I know you're going to give me hell at class for missing so much." He was known to make you work twice as hard for every class one person missed. Next week she's would be worked five times as hard.
"Yea. But we could start your punishment now with a dance." He held out his hand and she took it with a grin. It was hard not to resist such a fine instructor, especially when your own 'partner' was off with some blonde getting their pictures taken. Mars already made her forget about him, but not completely. The tempo became quicker and so did their movement. Soon everyone circled around them and started cheering them on. Jounouchi and Yugi were amongst the crowd cheering on their friend. They didn't realize how much she learned in America or how good she looked with that guy. They both followed each movement perfectly, sweat shining on her arms and legs. The short skirt was hard to maneuver in but somehow she did it. The backless spaghetti red top made it easier to feel cooler.
In Tokyo Princess if you wanted to be noticed with a partner, this was the place to go. Sometimes reporters from various magazines would come and take pictures of the best dancers there. Anzu's picture would be shown on the magazine but this would be the first time she would be shown with someone with her. Usually she would be shown by herself in the cage or on stage.
Mars pressed his body against her as she did the same. His head was against her neck, breathing heavily against it and making her heart beat wildly. One hand was on her hip while the other was on her back. Her own hands were around his neck, bringing his closer to her. Two songs turned into ten and the reporters got their golden pictures already. Tired from lack of rest, Anzu finally pulled away. His hand grasped her wrist lightly.
"Not bad." He whispered an gave her a kiss on the cheek. Just barely missing the corner of her mouth. "But not enough to make up for missing class." He grinned and walked away coolly. Anzu stood their, winded and wanting to rest. Mars was sure one interesting guy.
Jounouchi ran up to her and patted her on the back.
"Damn! The way you were dancing was hot! You guys seemed like you were interested in each other." He winked at her making her blush.
"Shut up, Jounouchi." She laughed and hit his stomach. "You guys had your fill of this club?" It was well past four in the morning at the had to get up at eight to go to the airport.
"Yea. Let's go get something to eat. There's no point of going home and going to sleep. We'll only sleep for an hour. So lets go eat!" Yugi came out of no where and took out the keys from his pocket.
"I'm hungry too!" He said. Agreeing with the boys she followed them out of the club to a near by diner.
Within an hour they managed to eat, pack their bags and somehow get to the airport on time. In ten minutes Jounouchi would be boarding a plane and leaving her. She was sad but at the same time happy that she could now face Seto and ask what happened with him and the girl and then call her and his relationship off. After being with Jounouchi for a week she realized, she is no one's fool and would not stand his crap. As they all huddled together one last time before they visit again, she hugged them both and thanked them for coming.
"You have to come back to Japan, you know?" Jounouchi sad sadly. Anzu hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Even though they all changed their clothes, they still smelled like cigarettes at the club.
"We'll write to you." Yugi promised. Right there and then the flight attendant announced that their flight will be boarding passengers.
"Okay. Goodbye guys!" She said as she walked away. Seeing them leave was too much so she had to leave before they left. "I can't see you guys go so I'll go first. I love you guys!" When she turned around she saw two familiar people down the other side of the airport coming her way and talking heatedly. They would stop every once and a while and continue to fight. It was not enough to cause people to stop and look at them but by they way they were using their hands and facial expressions, you could tell it was not a friendly chat. His pony tail could be seen anywhere and so could his dice earrings. The other persons cold eyes could stop traffic. Why was he here? Why now? She wasn't ready for him yet.
Looking back to see if her friends noticed what she was looking at, they weren't. Yugi was looking through his bags as Jounouchi drank his coffee. Walking fast, she tried to avoid Seto and Otogi. There was no way she could avoid them. Otogi already saw her.
"Anzu!" He yelled out a little loud. Seto looked up at her with a half startled, half expressionless expression. "I'm sorry to do this to you." He held out a newspaper towards her when Seto snatched it and stepped up to her, all but shoving it in her face.
"Care to explain, Mazaki?" Standing back a little she glared at him not show her hurt and looked at the newspaper. It was a picture from just a few hours ago with her and Mars. This picture was from when Mars kissed her on the cheek but from the angle of the shot it looked like he was kissing her on the mouth. There were other pictures of that night of both Mars and Anzu dancing scantily.
There were different quotes from different people at the club saying how she was linked with Seto Kaiba. The whole article was about her and Seto Kaiba and how they were both supposedly having a secret romance while Seto was seeing Marissa and Anzu was seeing her own instructor. Her eyes went wide and grabbed the article.
"Explain what?" Not helping but to get personal in a public place, she did not hold back. "Why don't you explain about that blonde a week ago?" God, now she sounded like some jealous girlfriend. Growling, he took hold of her wrist and dragged her to a hallway leading to the bathrooms. Luckily there was no one there. Otogi followed them and held the same wrist Seto was holding.
"Let her go, Kaiba. I told you already." He snarled out. Shaking her wrist from both the men, she hold it against her chest.
"What does it matter, Kaiba?" She said is last name in a mocking tone. "People talk. There's nothing we could do about it. If that article ruins your relationship with dear Marissa, then I'm sorry." Anzu assumed that he was mad about his lost chances with the blonde.
"Kaiba, she's a dancer. She was dancing with a guy, nothing more. It gives you no right to start questioning me like I was the cause of it." Otogi said making Anzu turn to him.
"What are you talking about, Otogi?" Kaiba sighed and walked away from the both of them but did not leave yet. He only took a few steps forward, running his hands through his hair.
"Kaiba fucking came out of no where started saying how I made you go with that guy you were dancing with. He went on and on saying that you were just looking for something physical with him and nothing more. He called you a tramp, Anzu. A tramp, and you defended him last time." Kaiba turned around at the statement.
"Look at the fucking picture! You look like a fucking tramp! And it's with that same guy too!" He yelled out causing Otogi to step forward to stop him from saying another word but Anzu held him back. She bit her lip so that she would not yell or scream.
"What's going on?" Her best friend stood behind Kaiba, facing Anzu in shame.
"Jounouchi." She croaked out. Who knows how long Jounouchi heard them. Yugi was behind Jounouchi looking at Kaiba then at Anzu. Kaiba closed his eyes and shook his head. Not even he meant to do this.
"What. The. Fuck. Is. Going. On?" He said with a deadly tone. His fists were clenched. Anzu backed up until she hit the wall and leaned her back against it. No one said a word, not even Yugi. "Don't even tell me you're seeing this asshole!"
"I'm sorry Anzu." Otogi said. "Jounouchi, we're all going on the same flight to Japan. We'll talk then."
"No." Jounouchi gritted out. "I want to hear it from her." Anzu looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Tell me you're fucking this asshole! Tell me you're fucking the guy who tormented us when we were in high school! Fucking tell me!" He yelled out causing her to wince at his tone.
"Please, Jounouchi. Otogi will tell you in the plane. You'll miss your flight." The tears made her voice sound strained, choked. Kaiba turned around to face Jounouchi before he responded.
"Nothing. Nothing is going on. Mind what you heard." And he walked away. Was that all he had to say?
"I swear Kaiba, if you even laid a hand on her I'll come back here and kill you!" Yugi held Jounouchi back.
Anzu never felt so alone in her life when she saw Jounouchi scoff is disgust and walked away, shaking off Yugi. Her best friend was pissed at her, as she predicted if he ever found out. It was out. It was officially out. Her secret relationship.
"Anzu?" Yugi called out. "Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll understand. Jounouchi just needs time to deal with it." The announcer called for last passengers going to Japan and Otogi gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
"I'll tell them, don't worry. I'll make them understand." After he left, she sunk to the floor in the hallway and cried, not knowing what to make of the whole situation.
Another chapter out. This chapter was a dreadful one. To be it seems fast, if it is, I'm sorry. I just wanted the visit to be done with. Tomorrow I will start the new chapter and hopefully post it. If not then by the end if Tuesday I'll have it out. Bit ain't ya proud that I coughed up two chapters in two days! Thanks so much for the reviews!