Hey hey.
So yeah. I know I promised an epilogue. I expected to have it up by Friday or Saturday, but my weekend got so busy (went to an art show, played some serious badminton, almost got into a huge bar brawl at the very first show of my friend's punk band) that I never got a chance to post. Sorry for the wait!
This epilogue further proves what a huge liar I basically am. I do my best, but things never seem to proceed according to my plans! I recently re-read this whole story and saw how ridiculously untrue many of my author's notes were. I didn't mean to tell so many fibs... and it seems like I'm still telling them. This epilogue was supposed to be the big finale of the story, but it kind of... got pretty long, and I figured it would be better to stop when I got the chance and finish the rest of it in a separate entry.
In other words, this story will have...
Two epilogues. (sigh)
It's really one big epilogue split into two entries, I guess. I didn't want to rush to get it finished, and splitting it up into two made me feel like I had much more room to maneuver. So there you have it. I'm going to try my hardest to get it all done by the end of the week, before I get completely sucked under by my other S x A story (which is just itching to be added to), The Night Before.
Also, just to clear something up, I have no present plans to write a sequel to this story. Some people seem to either think I intend to do so or else want me to. I don't rule it out permanently, but right now I'm going to be focusing on my other Seto x Anzu story and a Final Fantasy VII fic that people are bothering me to update. So yeah. Don't look for a sequel any time soon!
Thanks once again to everyone who has been reviewing or otherwise enjoying this story. i won't bother saying any final goodbyes this time since I know there's going to be another entry! I hope you guys don't find this chapter boring... it was really fun to write!
Holiday Blues
Epilogue 1: Hand in the Cookie Jar
"Hey! Hands off my Christmas cookie!"
Anzu and Yugi rolled their eyes, watching with learned patience as Honda and Jounouchi fought over the last cookie on the still-warm cookie sheet.
"Would you guys relax? There's already two more batches in the oven!"
Jounouchi had his hands wrapped around Honda's neck, causing cookie crumbs to fly out of Honda's mouth as he gasped for air. The two froze at Anzu's scolding, disengaging from each other and smiling guiltily.
"It's a Christmas tradition to fight over the last cookie, Anzu!"
All four friends laughed. That was a true statement if there ever was one. Anzu remembered one incident several years ago where Jou had shoved the last cookie down his pants rather than relinquish it to Honda. The look on Jounouchi's face when he realized his pants were full of now-inedible cookie crumbs had been priceless.
"So, what did you do this weekend Anzu," ventured Honda.
The three guests looked at their hostess, Yugi with noticeably more avid interest than the other two. Anzu tried extra, super hard to suppress her blush.
"Errr..."
Jounouchi piped up. "We went shoppin' together on Sunday afternoon. Yo, Anzu! Remember when we saw old moneybags? He looked like he was about to bite your head off!"
Yugi's eyebrows arched curiously. "Moneybags? Do you mean--"
"Yep, offered Jounouchi, "Kaiba. He was so busy starin' a hole through Anzu he didn't even insult me or nothin'. Then, he just stalked off!"
Anzu released a manic giggle as Yugi eyed her slyly.
"I wonder why that would be," he said. Only Anzu heard the secret amusement in his tone.
This conversation should not continue, thought the dancer. She shot up out of her chair, grabbed her oven mitts, and removed more cookies from the oven.
"Honda, why don't you make yourself useful and open a bottle of champagne? Then we can move into the living room."
She snatched some glasses from the cupboard and scurried into the other room as Honda opened the ice box. Yugi followed close behind.
"I've got to visit the little boys' room," smiled Jounouchi, ambling across the living room and down the small hallway that led to the bathroom.
Yugi took advantage of the private moment. "So," he said in a low voice, "did anything happen? With Kaiba I mean."
Anzu blushed to the roots of her chocolate hair. She was about to reply when Honda emerged with the champagne. "I'll tell you later, okay?"
Yugi grinned knowingly as Honda poured the champagne.
Whew, thought Anzu. Saved by the bottle! She wasn't ready to tell even Yugi about what had happened last night-- not yet. She figured she could avoid the topic for the rest of the evening...
...until Jounouchi emerged from her bathroom, a long sleeved black button-down shirt clutched in his hand, looking more than politely curious.
Anzu blanched, gagging on a sip of champagne. It was the shirt Seto had been wearing when she found him in the park! She had totally failed to notice it in her bathroom... He must have left it there when he changed after he took a shower.
Visions of Seto emerging from her steamy, wet shower with a towel slung haphazardly around his waist tumbled through Anzu's uncooperative mind. She didn't know what would be better; throwing him down on the bed and running her hands all over his clean damp skin or pushing him back into the shower and jumping in with him.
Gah! Stop thinking about that!
Jounouchi waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Lookie what I found! You been havin' some house guests we don't know about, Anzu?"
Yugi's mirth was threatening to bubble over like a carelessly poured glass of champagne. If Jou only knew--
"Uhh, it's... an old one! My dad's! I...wear it sometimes! Comfortable!"
Jounouchi wrinkled his nose. "Smells like booze..."
"Hahaha, whoops! Spilled a glass of brandy!"
Jou shrugged, tossing the shirt across the arm of the couch next to Anzu. She tried not to stare at it. Booze wasn't the only thing she could smell wafting off the shirt. A hint of cologne made it even more difficult for Anzu to control her naughty memories and contemplations.
Honda was laughing. "For a dancer, you sure are clumsy!"
I can't believe they bought that, she thought with giddy relief. My dad would be swimming in that shirt!
The rest of the evening passed without incident, the four friends drinking copious amounts of champagne, eating cookies, and reminiscing about Christmases past. By 10PM they were all sprawled on the comfortable living room furniture, tingling happy from the champagne buzz. Anzu was sufficiently distracted and lazy so that when the telephone began to ring she made no move to answer it. Rather careless, really...
"We'll let the machine get it."
The answering machine was on a side table next to the side of the couch where Yugi sat.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
"Anzu... This is Seto. Are you there?"
Anzu froze, both in abject horror and sweet fluttery arousal at the sound of Seto Kaiba's voice on her answering machine. Three pairs of eyes were now regarding her with various combinations of shock, curiosity, and outrage.
"I guess you've stepped out. This is the phone call I promised you this morning before I had to run out."
Damn, damn, damn! She couldn't seem to mobilize herself to either answer the phone or turn down the volume on the answering machine...
Seto's voice dropped a little lower, gravelly and laced with undisguised desire. Jounouchi looked like his face was about to melt off.
"I've been thinking about you all day... Call me back as soon as you get in, it doesn't matter what time. Use my private office number. It's--"
The rest of Seto's message was drowned out by Yugi's hysterical laughter, in which he was swiftly joined by an obviously amused Honda.
"I don't b--believe it," gasped Honda, "You--" He laughed even harder. "--and K--Kaiba!"
Anzu's face was bright red. Oh...crap. "Umm... it's not what it sounds like!"
Yugi gave an incredulous snort. "Oh come on, Anzu. He was obviously rattled over something when he ran out of here on Saturday, and he's been thinking about you all day..."
Honda laughed even harder at Yugi's reasonably good impersonation of Kaiba's velvety come-hither voice, trying valiantly to muffle his insane giggles when Anzu shot him a death glare.
Jounouchi, however, was not amused. "Saturday? And this morning? Since when did you spend so much time with that jerk, Anzu?"
"I haven't-- I mean, it was only a couple nights--"
"Nights? You mean he's been here...with you...at night...like, in your bed?"
Yugi and Honda had stopped laughing the moment they heard the venom in Jou's voice. And the look on their other friend's face? Well, it was safe to say the Wrath of Anzu was about to rain down.
"That is not what I said!"
Jounouchi's eyes narrowed. "Yeah? I bet it's true though, isn't it!"
Anzu threw up her arms in defeat. "Yes! Yes, okay? Me and Kaiba, here, together, in my bed. Last night. ALL night. Are you happy now!" She exhaled heavily with relief after her admission.
The three guys fell silent. That sounded like maybe a bit more information than they'd really needed.
Yugi recovered first. "So, are you going to tell us what happened? I mean, after our talk I had a feeling it might, but I didn't think it would be this soon!"
Jounouchi frowned, eyes darting repeatedly between Anzu, Yugi, and the black shirt he'd found in the bathroom. "Yugi, did you... know about this?"
Yugi waggled one hand back and forth.
Honda raised an eyebrow at Jounouchi. "Maybe you should have seen it coming, Jou. Didn't you say he was staring at Anzu yesterday? He probably wanted to kiss her, but wouldn't do it in front of you!"
Jounouchi snapped his eyes back onto Anzu's. "I hope you have a good explanation for this. I mean...Kaiba? How could you... Why would you..." He shook his head.
Anzu smiled softly at her three friends, who all seemed interested in what she might have to say.
"Well, since you're all here I guess I might as well tell you everything..."
xxxxxx
Anzu had told her story, the whole thing, from start to finish, and by the end of her tale even Jounouchi couldn't seem to be too angry--
not when her face glowed like that, and her eyes sparkled whenever she said his name.
Him... Seto Kaiba.
Who would have ever thought it, wondered Jounouchi as he walked home along the icy sidewalks. The ice block and our little Anzu.
He sighed, hardly believing his own thoughts. If Anzu really liked him that much, maybe Kaiba wasn't that bad after all...
He better not hurt her.
If he doesn't treat her real nice, he's toast.
Jounouchi snorted to himself, half smiling.
And he's still dead meat next time he calls me a dog!
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Mokuba was perplexed.
This had been one of the strangest days he could remember having, ever.
He sighed, marching down the corridor in his robe and slippers. Everyone is acting so funny...
It was around midnight, and Rebecca was sound asleep. Mokuba hadn't been able to drift off; he'd been too preoccupied. He'd decided to head down to the kitchen and raid the cookie jar.
The younger Kaiba poured himself a glass of milk and felt his way by memory across the dark kitchen to the countertop paradise of chocolate chip deliciousness. He was pleased to discover that the jar was full right to the top. Seto obviously remembered what it could be like if you separated Mokuba from his cookies, whether he was 8 years old or 18.
Leaning his elbows on the counter, Mokuba reviewed the day's events. He hoped the famous Kaiba logic might help him find some clues or answers.
First, Seto had been half an hour late to the airport. When he did arrive, he had been all...rumpled. An un-Seto-like adjective if there ever was one. At first Mokuba figured his brother had been overworking himself again. However, upon closer inspection, he'd noticed that Seto looked remarkably well rested. His face even held a healthy glow which Mokuba couldn't remember seeing on his brother since...well, ever.
And his mood! Such a-- dare he say it-- good mood! Seto had been wearing an inexplicable small smile throughout the day, and had even laughed a couple times. And not maniacally!
Then there had been the moments where the older Kaiba seemed to drift away into his own world, with faraway eyes and a dazed expression...
Was there anything more out of character than Seto Kaiba daydreaming?
Mokuba wiped away his milk mustache and reached for another cookie. This conundrum definitely rated at least two cookies on the pondering scale.
After all, he had two people's behavior to be confused about.
Mokuba had figured that Rebecca would feel apprehensive around his brother. After all, she had seen in the past what Seto could be like at his worst. Not to mention the fact that up until two days ago he had been vehemently opposed to her presence in his house...
But no.
Almost from the moment they'd all gotten in the car, Rebecca had smiled slyly whenever she looked at Seto. It was like she knew a secret about him that nobody else did. And when Mokuba looked askance at her, she would just raise a pretty eyebrow and giggle at him.
Then, when Rebecca had offered to pick up groceries for the next couple nights' meals-- citing a desire to get out and reacquaint herself with Domino a bit anyway-- she had asked Seto a really odd question. Looking at him with twinkling eyes, she had inquired whether she might need to pick up enough ingredients to cook for an extra person.
And what had Seto said to this? Nothing! He had just blushed. Blushed!
Mokuba had shifted his gaze from his brother to his girlfriend and back, wondering why, why, why she looked so amused and Seto so embarrassed.
What extra person had she meant, anyway? Mokuba couldn't think of anyone else that might drop by. Especially not that Rebecca might know about.
Oh well, thought Mokuba. His stomach was too full to accommodate another cookie, and his eyelids were drooping with sleepiness. I'll just have to see how tomorrow goes. Maybe everyone will be normal again. He yawned, squeezing his gray-blue eyes shut and stretching his arms.
He smiled at the thought of returning to his bed, wrapping himself in the fluffy blankets, and snuggling up to Rebecca.
Plodding quietly down the hallway toward the back stairs, Mokuba noticed a light coming from beneath the door to Seto's office. Was he still working? The black haired Kaiba felt the need to chastise his older brother for overdoing it. Mokuba approached the office door, which was open just a crack. He could hear some mumbling. Was his brother on the phone at this hour? I guess it could be a call to an office in another time-zone...
Mokuba's assumptions flew out the window as he crept closer to the door, only to hear a burst of rich laughter floating through the dark wood and to his ears. Pressing his tousled raven head against the door Mokuba listened, eyes growing wider by the second.
"Hmm," Seto said, "that's a rather personal question."
Mokuba's jaw dropped at his brother's playful tone. Who was he talking to?
"...they're blue, in case you couldn't guess."
What was blue? Seto's eyes, maybe? No, that couldn't be it. Everyone already knew about Seto's steely blue glare. Mokuba wished he could hear the other half of the conversation. He pressed his ear more firmly against the door.
"So...what are you wearing?"
Okay. This definitely wasn't a business call.
"That sounds...enticing, but I'd prefer if you weren't wearing anything at all."
WHAT?
"Oh, by all means. Feel free to remove them."
Mokuba blanched. Was his big brother talking to...a woman? Well, he certainly hoped it wasn't a man...
"Hn. You'd like that, wouldn't you."
There was a long pause.
"If you keep up with that sort of talk I will be forced to come over there and ravage you right now."
Mokuba's jaw dropped. He had never, ever heard Seto talk that way before!
A sexy chuckle assaulted Mokuba's ears.
"Is that an invitation? Because it sounds like one."
The younger Kaiba brother blushed, feeling like he really shouldn't eavesdrop any longer. For one thing, this conversation seemed to be skirting on dangerous territory. His brother's next suggestive statement confirmed this suspicion.
"Mmm, what am I going to do to you first? Well--"
At this point, something rather unfortunate and embarrassing happened to Mokuba. Half of his mind had told him to run away, while the other implored him to stay and listen. The physical result of this struggle was thus:
One of Mokuba's legs started to back away from the door, while the other stayed stubbornly in place. His midsection twisted awkwardly. His arms began to flail. And then--
"Aack!"
Mokuba fell over, tumbling through the unlatched door and landing in an ungraceful heap on the floor just inside Seto's office. He was greeted with the sight of his brother sprawled comfortably on his office couch, one hand holding the phone and the other splayed across his midsection. His relaxed pose didn't last long. As soon as he saw Mokuba hit the floor, he shot up into a sitting position, looking panicked and covering the receiver with his palm.
"Little brother?"
Mokuba blushed furiously and rubbed the side of his head. "Ehehe. Hi, Seto..."
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There. Kind of an abrupt ending, I know, but it seemed like the best opportunity to stop! Sorry if it was kinda fluffy. The next update should be soon, and WILL signal the end of this story. Will Seto tell Mokuba about Anzu? Will she be the extra dinner guest? And will everybody have a Merry Christmas? Find out next time.
I can't believe I'm talking about Christmas right now, when all I want to do is go throw myself in my pool!
Review and let me know how you liked this.
