Here is another installment of Holiday Blues. This story is progressing less quickly than I had expected, but it should still be complete within a week or so. This chapter was supposed to have some spicy interaction between Seto and Anzu, but the two of them had other ideas. They were too busy…thinking about things. So this chapter is mostly exposition and character thoughts. Just to warn you. The fun stuff will have to wait until chapter 4.

A big thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far -- including the anonymous reviewer who (I'm not sure) might've insulted me. LoL Something about 'you fangirls and your little fantasies', I believe. Never been referred to as a fangirl before, and I'm not sure how the term makes me feel (even though it's probably true). Being 22, I guess I'd be more comfortable with something like 'fanwoman' (geez that sounds silly). The end of chapter 2 was, I admit, a bit on the fan-servicey side. Parts of this chapter are, too. But isn't that what fan fiction is for? As far as my fantasies are concerned, I've actually been alone in my apartment before with a sexy man in my shower, so I didn't really feel like it was that much of a stretch. ::Evil grin:: (ahem…) Anyway, moving on…

Disclaimer: I don't own these guys. And I apologize for inaccuracies and/or out of character behaviour.

Holiday Blues
Chapter 3: Mirror in the Bathroom

Stop thinking about Kaiba in the shower!

Anzu sprinkled black pepper into the pot of soup rather more violently than usual. What was she so nervous about, anyway? So what if Kaiba was here?

In her apartment. In her shower. NAKED in her shower—

Aargh! So what if probably the sexiest guy she had ever known was naked and dripping wet in her hot, steamy shower…it was Kaiba for god's sake! It's not like she liked him or anything! And in any case he'd made it pretty plain that he wasn't especially delighted to see her…

Giving the soup a final stir, Anzu lowered the heat to simmer and went to sit down in her apartment's little window-side breakfast nook. She stroked her coffee mug idly, trying to reason away her irrationally charged feelings toward her old schoolmate.

Being…attracted to him is really no big deal, her mind suggested. It was just nature. Hormones. Whatever. Kaiba'd always had a certain…something. She tapped her fingers on the tabletop absently, chewing her bottom lip.

He is handsome, she allowed. And it'd been…how long since she'd (ahem) been with anybody? 6 months? 8? This was just her sexually deprived body's unfortunate response to Kaiba's undeniable hotness. These highly irregular feelings of abject lust were sure to evaporate as soon as her visitor was gone.

Satisfied with this explanation, Anzu allowed her thoughts to meander around Kaiba some more. She tucked one leg beneath her and glanced out her 4th floor window, thinking about what he had been like before she'd left for New York.

Even though Kaiba had always been knocking heads with Yugi and the rest of her friends, what began as genuine animosity had seemed to mellow over time into a less malicious – though no less intense - form of rivalry. You couldn't say he'd ever really joined their group, but he'd seemed to tolerate Mokuba's association with them. Which was saying a lot, really. Kaiba was extremely protective of his younger brother, and his acceptance of them as suitable friends for Mokuba was almost a sign of respect.

Kaiba himself had never shown any obvious outward inclination toward friendship. He'd treated them all with his trademark cool indifference unless circumstances forced him to join with them in some common cause. Anzu smiled, remembering. Even if Kaiba had just risked his own neck (or safety, or soul) to save one of them, his next move would probably be to glare and walk in the opposite direction.

She couldn't remember ever seeing him with a date or a girlfriend, either. She supposed he was always too busy with Kaiba Corp and Duel Monsters. Not that it was any of her business…

Still, Anzu pondered, his general surliness doesn't explain why he would go on such a bender…

It had been bothering her since she found him. Getting totally blootered and behaving so recklessly just didn't seem like the kind of thing Kaiba would do. Not the Kaiba she knew, anyway.

But do I really know him? Perhaps I shouldn't be so presumptuous.

She'd only seen Kaiba once in the past 5 years, and she was pretty certain he hadn't noticed her. She'd been given the opportunity to dance with the New York City Ballet, near Christmas time last year. 'The Nutcracker', of course. She'd seen Kaiba in the audience at a special performance for a charity benefit. He'd looked debonair in his classic tuxedo, and had actually seemed to be quietly enjoying the performance, ignoring the chatter of the stuffy looking man beside him.

Anzu had spotted him again after the show when she was leaving the theater. He'd been pacing back and forth on the sidewalk out front, talking on a slim metallic cell phone. She had raised her arm, preparing to wave and greet him…but before she got the chance to say anything, a limo had pulled up to the curb. Kaiba had jumped in and sped away, leaving Anzu looking like some idiot by the side of the street waving at nothing.

She snickered to herself. It's not as though he'd have probably wanted to have a pleasant little chit-chat and catch up on old times. Maybe it had been for the best that he hadn't noticed her.

Rising from her seat and stretching, Anzu decided to make some croutons to go with the soup. She had part of a day old French loaf which would do nicely. She'd thought soup would be a perfect lunch for such a frosty day. Plus, it was suitable hangover food…in case Kaiba was hungry…

As she took the olive oil out of the cupboard, she wondered about Mokuba Kaiba. Surely, the younger Kaiba would never knowingly let his brother harm himself like this…but hadn't Yugi said something about Mokuba studying in Australia?

…could that have something to do with Kaiba's behaviour?

Shaking her head and pushing some hair behind her ear, Anzu began to slice the bread into crouton-sized cubes.

Maybe I'll just ask him about it…

xxxxxx

Seto exhaled with relief as he wrapped a fluffy green towel around his waist and stepped toward Anzu's sink. It was pretty amazing how much better a hot shower could make you feel, even when you took it in the slightly scary confines of a woman's bathroom. He wasn't as uncomfortable as he could have been. Anzu's bathroom was tastefully decorated, and he'd been pleased to discover that her bath supplies weren't all fruity or flowery as he'd expected. Her soaps and shampoos had pleasant, clean smells. Cottony, almost.

His stomach was still a bit queasy, but his head was ten times clearer thanks to the Tylenol and the soothing effect of the hot water. He felt reenergized.

Swiping a hand across the steamed-up mirror above the sink, Seto examined his face. It was certainly an improvement; his hair was wet but clean, his eyes seemed less cloudy, and the bags beneath them less pronounced. The lower half of his face was still scratchy, shadowed with the result of over 24 hours without a shave.

He shrugged at his reflection, opening the medicine cabinet. The shave would wait until he got home, but Seto needed the use of a toothbrush now. He was sure the stale whiskey taste in his mouth was half of what was keeping him queasy.

Ripping open the package of what he assumed must be Anzu's spare toothbrush, he took a few moments to consider his unexpected hostess. It was just like little miss friendship to keep an extra toothbrush in her cabinet. God forbid that one of her nerd friends might be in need of one. He rummaged around for some toothpaste.

She thinks I'm one of her 'nerd friends'…

Her…niceness had always confused him. Even at Duelist Kingdom when he'd been at his worst, she'd acted like she actually cared about his well-being. She'd sometimes waved cheerily at him if they passed in the hall at school or on the street after that, even though he only ever scowled or ignored her in return.

And now here he was, wrapped in her fluffy towel, scrubbing his teeth with her extra toothbrush? Quite the turn of events…not that he could complain. He had put himself into this position, after all.

But of all the women in Domino, why her?

Well, he mused while splashing his face with cold water, at least that trashy blonde from the bar didn't find me…

Seto massaged some of the moisture out of his hair and off of his face with the other towel Anzu had handed him. The towel smelled fresh and sunny. Draping both towels over the shower door and slipping into his blue boxer shorts, he began to pick through the pile of clothes she had offered.

"Hmm…" He held a pair of jeans out in front of him. Way too short. What were these, Yugi's pants? He tossed them aside. She had only said the clothes might fit him. No problem. He could wear his own pants. He pulled the black slacks on.

There were several t-shirts in the pile. Surely, one of these would fit. The first one he picked up was…yellow. With a big hot pink palm tree on it.

"Blech." The ugly shirt joined the munchkin jeans on the floor.

The next shirt in the pile looked like part of a baseball uniform. Sports weren't really Seto's thing, but he supposed he could deal with this for now. At least he thought he could, until he saw what was embossed on the back of the jersey:

Jounouchi
42

"She's got to be joking." He'd rather walk around shirtless in midwinter than be seen in the mutt's clothes. He dropped the shirt like a bad habit. There was only one shirt left. He picked it up, examining it.

Seto was surprised. How had Anzu come to have something like this? It was a long sleeved white t-shirt, which was generally rather unremarkable. What attracted Seto's attention was a small, intricately detailed Blue Eyes White Dragon embroidered over the upper left breast of the shirt. Nice…

He slipped it over his head. Flexing his shoulders, he checked the fit. It was a little tight across the chest, but otherwise perfect. Most importantly, the sleeves were long enough for his arms. Seto really hated it when his sleeves were too short. The pale dragon looked good against the snowy clean cotton.

After pulling on his socks, Seto looked himself over. Not bad. He was at least presentable enough to walk back to the mansion. He could call himself a limo, but maybe the fresh air would do him some good…

He hoped Anzu wouldn't give him a hard time on his way out, preaching at him or interrogating him. He really didn't feel like dealing with her self-righteous lectures. She'd probably expect some show of gratitude, as well. He'd be damned if he was going to scrape and grovel at Anzu's feet. He hadn't asked for her help, after all.

Seto's stomach rumbled. "Great, now I'm hungry too." He hoped against hope that Anzu would accept a simple 'thank you' so that he could head home. Turning the doorknob, he reluctantly emerged from his warm and steamy sanctuary.

He visualized the twinkling sky blue eyes of the woman who seemed to be clattering about in the kitchen, dreading that his escape wouldn't be nearly as smooth as he wished.

xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx

So, there we go. I hope it wasn't too boring. The characters just wouldn't allow me to rush ahead. I'll update again in a couple days. It wasn't planned, but I'm thinking about adding a little scene with Mokuba and Rebecca since people seem to be rather pleased about them being together.

Like it? Hate it? Review it!