Hi guys!

Here's another update... which yet again moves the story forward less than I had originally intended. This story just keeps extending itself, because I guess I've been feeling kind of wordy these days (not that I'm complaining). There's really nowhere left to go after this, though, so it'll be 2 more chapters at maximum.

Hopefully I can publish them quickly so that I can finish my overdue Christmas story faster than aphrael21 (plug plug, go read 'Christmas Chaos') finishes hers!

My gratitude for all the nice reviews, and some good advice/suggestions which I assure you are being taken to heart. This is now my most successful story ever! (SHOWERS OF CONFETTI) ...which I admit isn't really saying much. But it still makes me really happy! So thanks for that.

So now it's time to spend a little time with Seto. If you thought Anzu was having problems, wait until you see what kind of day he's having!

Holiday Blues

Chapter 8: Unglued

"Hold all my calls."

Kaiba's secretary jumped, dropping her pen as her boss stalked past in an obvious temper, brutally slamming the door to his office. She shook her head. Profits for the quarter were up more than 20 percent, new contracts were clamoring their way like a swarm of flying monkeys, and it was almost Christmas. Yet he still couldn't manage even a tiny smile? The man was clearly deranged. She sighed, returning to the file she'd been updating. Whatever, she mused, the pay is unbeatable and the daily view isn't so bad either...

The man inside the office was in a state of extreme agitation, and it wasn't because of profits, Christmas, or flying monkeys. It was because of her. Kaiba violently pulled off his blue-gray cashmere sweater, hurling it across his office into the corner near the leather couch. Slumping into the chair behind his desk, he pulled impatiently at the collar of his white dress shirt.

His work and his duel monsters were supposed to be his life, his focus, his true passion. so why was Anzu Mazaki the only thing he could fricken concentrate on?

Kaiba grumbled to himself, spinning his chair around to face the windows lining the back wall of his office. If only he hadn't seen her this afternoon after that business lunch, with her annoying terrier yapping at her heals no less, maybe-- maybe-- he would have had a chance.

When Jounouchi had attacked him with a typically tired and well-worn insult, he'd thought it might provide a chance to blow off some steam and forget about the other things on his mind. And then he'd spotted her and painful stars had begun to dance behind his eyes. She had looked... perfect, really. Adorable, delicious, irresistible in such an ordinary way. Her cheeks had been flushed pink, from embarrassment or cold he couldn't say. Her eyes were wide and bright, the same fresh blue as the winter sky. Every muscle in his body tightened as he thought about the inviting way her glossy bottom lip had quirked.

It felt like the middle of July inside Kaiba's clothes as he recalled how close he'd been to grabbing her and shoving his tongue down her throat, tasting her lips and skin, pressing himself against her right in the sidewalk for everyone to see. He exhaled forcefully, sweeping some hair out of his eyes. Good thing he had the sense to run away. She probably would have kicked him in the shins, or worse, sicked Jounouchi on him.

Or she might have kissed you back, taunted his inner voice. After all, she's already kissed you once.

She only did that to stop my ranting.

The voice chuckled knowingly. Did you even see how she was looking at you? All curious and shy and wanting...

"Rrrgh," he growled, very very close to coming completely undone.

Then, he heard his cellphone ringing insistently. Seto's boiling blood cooled down to a gentle simmer as he grabbed the phone, scowling at the call display. Ugh. Wretched, stupid board member. He dropped the cellphone into a convenient desk drawer, which he closed with a swift click. This afternoon's board meeting had not helped matters. The Kaiba Corp board boasted its share of morons on a good day, which today was most markedly not.

You're just mad because even they made you think about Anzu.

Seto rubbed his temples, thinking back to the disastrous meltdown of a board meeting he had just recently stormed out of.

x Flashback: Kaiba Corp Board Meeting, 3PM x

The CEO of Kaiba Corp tapped his fingers impatiently on the board room table as one of his executives prattled on mindlessly with some utterly useless report. He'd learned very quickly after taking control of this company that you had to sift through a lot of superfluous information in order to chisel what you heard at a meeting like this down to its essential, useful parts. He'd become quite successful at knowing what was important to listen to, and what was just worthless noise pollution. He rolled his eyes as another board member began to chatter excitedly.

"You'll all be pleased to know that gross profits are up over 20 percent for this quarter. Take a look at these numbers! Even you, Mr. Kaiba, might dance for joy when you lay eyes on these!"

A sheet of paper was slipped in front of him as the speaker began to enumerate quarterly sales totals by division. His eyes skimmed the paper absently, his mind distracted by inane phrase the man had just used.

'Dance for joy'?

Dance.

Dancer.

Anzu.

He shifted uncomfortably, remembering a night in New York several years ago when he'd seen Anzu dance. The image of her graceful form invaded his mind. She had floated across the stage like an angel. He didn't doubt that the charity event had generated buckets of donations; every man in that audience had been in the palm of Anzu's exquisite hand by the time the performance was over. Even he had been spellbound, though he'd never have admitted it at the time. He'd considered seeking her out backstage after the show, but decided against it almost immediately. It would have been awkward at best, and an urgent business call sent him speeding away from the theater in any case. Kaiba shook the memory out of his mind as another board member took the floor.

"...excited to know that we've scored another very lucrative contract this week. After several years of negotiation we've finally managed to convince director Hayao Miyazaki and his studio to allow us the rights to develop a series of games based on his animated films."

Impressive, Seto was willing to admit. Everyone knew how particular Miyazaki was about the integrity of his artistic vision. Someone must have done some good work to secure that contract.

Hmm. Miyazaki. Sounds like--

Mazaki.

Anzu.

The executives nearest to Seto regarded him strangely as he released a frustrated snarl. This was certainly nothing to be upset about, was it? They knew their boss was temperamental, but all the news so far today was good news... wasn't it?

The same board member continued, announcing more development opportunities in the works for the gaming division. Seto vaguely heard something about Duel Monsters through the increasing Anzu-induced fog in his mind. Something about possibilities being ironed out in the virtual entertainment department. And then...

"...to some girls, yes. But our demographic studies show that Duel Monsters is still an overwhelmingly male pursuit. To capture a larger percentage of the female gaming market, I've instructed my team to work on a series of ideas specifically geared toward adolescent girls. The first project to begin production is a fun simulation where the player creates and manages a team of competitive cheerleaders. By developing their skills and regulating their diet, the player earns points which can be used to activate special abilities and new routines, enabling the team to--

Seto Kaiba's ears were burning. Not only was this one of the most idiotic game ideas he'd ever heard, it was also another infuriating reminder...

Cheerleaders.

Yugi's cheerleader.

Anzu.

Anzu, Anzu, ANZU!

Blue eyes, soft hair, long silky limbs he wished would wrap around him in so many different configurations--

"Aaargh!" Seto Kaiba rose from the head of the table like a shot, knocking over his chair and rushing out of the room as though the hounds of hell were snarling and snapping behind him.

The bewildered board members looked at each other in silent confusion. Had Mr. Kaiba finally crumbled under the force of his workaholic ways and tumbled off the deep end?

"I guess he didn't like it."

One of the executives pushed a small intercom button. "Miss Suzuki?" The other board members fidgeted nervously.

"...yes. Call down and tell them to cancel the cheerleader project immediately."

x End Flashback x

Seto fisted his dark hair with both hands in complete exasperation. The sun was beginning to set over the city behind him as he struggled with the realization that he was coming completely unglued.

The voice inside Kaiba's head smiled deviously as the infatuated CEO reached the only possible logical conclusion.

The way things were presently progressing, he would probably self-destruct in time for the evening news to cover it. The only option left was to go confront Anzu Mazaki and tell her to stay out of his life, his mind, his (he didn't even want to touch this one) heart...

He wasn't sure what he was getting himself into, but it would almost certainly be better than throwing himself off the nearest highway overpass. Pulling his black coat on over his crooked and wrinkly dress shirt, Seto Kaiba hurried out of his office, radar locked determinedly on the cozy apartment by the park.

XXXXXXX

XXXXXXX

Hehe. Well, that was manic and torturous, no? Poor guy. I promise things will get better for him soon. The next chapter should be a real doozy. I've been mulling it over and over in my mind, trying to utilize the best possible strategy to make it perfect, not too fluffy or soppy, but sweet nonetheless. Look for the next chapter soon! I hope everyone enjoyed this one. I also hope Kaiba's agonizing doesn't seem too OOC! Oh well. It's necessary! And entertaining. Agree? Disagree? Let me know by reviewing!