APRICOT SUNDAE
I really hate Tuesdays....
Anzu yawned, trudging down the path toward the building several blocks away, barely in view.
"Anzu!" A voice wailed, gaining her attention to the entrance of the school's building.
There stood Ryou, frantically waving his right arm in the air to gain her attention. She returned the friendly gesture and immediately headed toward him.
He smiled jubilantly. "You remembered,"
"Of course I did!"
His smile grew. "The Library just opened, so we can go in there and work privately,"
"Sounds great," She walked up the steps, before accompanying him inside the school building, down the hall, and into the Library, desolate of its normal throngs of students studying or checking out books.
Then again they arrived an hour early to have some peace and quiet.
They settled at a lone table in the back, silently shuffling into a seat across from one another, removing their book bags and taking out all the supplies afterwards.
"Did you bring the poster?" Anzu asked, taking out a pack of colored markers.
He nodded. "I'll go get it. It's in my locker,"
She nodded. "Alright, I'll just wait here and keep an eye on our stuff,"
He smiled and reluctantly strode out of the Library.
Anzu yawned again, eyeing the clock above the Librarians desk. Seven thirty-five.
"An hour should be enough to get some stuff done," She murmured, looking away from the digital clock posted high on the wall.
Someone entered moments after.
Anzu sharply sucked in a breath, before looking away from the Library's entrance. What's he doing here so early!?
She pretended to look through the projects instruction guide as the familiar boy strode across her table, taking a seat two tables affront her.
She studied him beneath her bangs. Does he come here everyday this early?
Kaiba settled in the chair, completely unaware of the presence of the girl seated several tables behind his own, busying himself with starting up his laptop.
If Mokuba hadn't insisted I take him to get ice cream, I wouldn't be here so damn early finishing these stock prices...
He irritably ruffled his bangs, disheveling his brown hair, uncharacteristic of the normally poise and composed CEO.
Tapping several keys hurriedly, he studied the prices and began to sort them. His eyes flickered up and over the laptop when he noticed the other person in the library besides himself and the Librarian who was God knows where.
Mazaki... He addressed foully to himself, eyeing the brunette staring down at a stack of papers in her hands.
He looked back down at the screen. The only reason she's taking care of Mokuba is because he insisted.
He returned to his business, typing at rapid speed, intent on finishing and getting the hell out of there. He despised Library's, and found his office back home much more fitting to do all his work there.
Not only that, but I can keep an eye on Mokuba...
He also hated leaving his brother alone with just the maids. Those wenches had no care in the world for his brothers estate, were he not the Seto Kaiba they would have not bothered with him in the least.
His eyes jerked to the side when a boy walked in gaily with a poster tucked under his right arm, smiling wanly.
His brow shot up. Well if it isn't Bakura. Another one of Yuugi's pathetic friends. His eyes unconsciously narrowed on the white-haired boys approaching figure, walking toward the table Anzu was at.
His eyebrow cocked higher. Seems the Yuugi fan club decided to have a little meeting.
He watched the two friends settle into a light-whispered conversation. How am I supposed to concentrate with those losers yapping away like hyenas?
And sure, Anzu was doing him a favor really, but that didn't disregard her reputation as 'one of Yuugi's friends'.
Or for that matter, lessen his irritation of her chipper attitude. Now that he thought about it, the bunch of them were oddly hyper.
Must be contagious. Thankfully I haven't been affected.
If he were, he'd rather have his Blue Eyes White Dragon taken away. And that, to Kaiba, was a big deal.
His eyes fell on Anzu the exact moment her head lifted, and their eyes met on impulse.
She smiled good-heartedly and slightly waved, then lowered her hand when she realized he had no means of intending to acknowledge her. None the less wave back!
Who did she take him for? One of her sappy friends?
He almost chuckled at her foolishness to believe just because she was baby-sitting Mokuba for his benefit, gave her the right to act as if they were buddies.
He looked away and calmly returned to his work, ignoring her for the remainder of his time there.
Anzu grumbled under her breath and looked away from the CEO. What a jerk. Should've guessed he'd still be rude.
She picked up a marker and irritably tended to the poster board Ryou was busily working on as well, decorating the corners with doodles of frogs. Oddly, he was a rather excellent artist.
She was annoyed Kaiba had the nerve to treat her the same, even after she agreed to watch Mokuba during the weekend.
She didn't expect a card, a box of chocolates, or even roses as a simple show of appreciation. No, she just wanted him to be nice to her and her friends. Even if just the slightest, as long as there was an improvement! But no, good old Kaiba would never change.
She labeled the poster at the top middle section, scribbling in thick, neat cursive with a permanent black marker. ' Kaiba the Frog,'
And then she realized, he'd not only ruined her day, but he inevitably ruined her poster.
"Nooo!"
Ryou patted her back. "Anzu, don't look so glum!"
Anzu sulked further in her seat, ignoring their biology teacher's lesson as she recalled this morning's events.
"But I ruined our poster, Ryou!" She guiltily reminded.
He smiled. "We can always buy another one,"
There was something about Ryou, so content and energetic, that she was unable to not return the smile. He was right, they could get another one and start over.
Then she remembered Ryou's hard efforts and brilliant idea to draw frogs on the corners. And she had to go and ruin it.
She sulked further in her chair in the back. "But you worked so hard on it," She stared at him.
His smile never faltered. "Those drawings weren't that good anyway," He assured, flushing.
"They were excellent! What are you talking about?" She asked incredulously.
He flushed more with a faint smile. "Well, this time I'll draw better!"
Better? She thought dismally. Ryou's lying just for me. I feel so---so MAD at that stupid Kaiba! If he hadn't been there, and on my mind, I wouldn't have written his stupid name on that stupid poster!
Now she was steamed! All because of him their poster got ruined! And yes, it was his fault! If he'd just waved back it would've been all nice and dandy! But no, she had to expect too much from a conceited, uptight, narcissistic jerk like Kaiba!
And now Ryou probably hates me. She resumed staring at Ryou. Doing so made her conscious step up and confront her; blaming Kaiba on her mistakes wasn't going to help or make her feel better.
She bowed her head, fiddling her thumbs. It's my fault. Not Kaiba's. As much as it should be, it isn't. I wrote it and ruined it. I was the one not paying attention...
Ryou shook her shoulder gently when she remained seated two minutes after the bell. "Anzu, the bell--"
"Ey! Ryou, Anz! What are ya' two still doin in 'ere?" The familiar face of Jou popped back into the classroom shortly after he left, only to notice his two friends' absence.Anzu bolted up. "Oh my God! We're going to be late for fourth period!"
Jou arched a brow. "Uh, Anz. Fourth periods lunch....."
She faltered. Right. I knew that...
Ryou smiled warmly, ushering her out of the classroom as he got her book bag and carried it for her.
"Thanks Ryou. I-I'm just thinking about--"
He stopped her in the middle of the hallway, as Jou continued on toward the cafeteria.
"We'll go and get another poster after school. How's that sound?" He smiled brightly.
She nodded weakly, mesmerized by his tranquil aura that had the ability to always cheer her up in any situation. Good or bad.
"Thanks Ryou.....for not being mad--"
He cut her off. "You're me mate! I could never be mad at you,"
She almost teared up. God did Ryou have a way with words! But now she really felt bad.
"But if I hadn't--and Kaiba--poster--" She babbled, then blanched when she realized she let everything slip out.
"Kaiba? Did something happen with you and Kaiba?"
The way he'd said it, almost as if he was implying they were a couple who'd just gotten into an argument, slightly disturbed her.
"No. It's just---" She was going to tell him everything, how she'd been so mad at Kaiba, and thinking about him so keenly that she'd accidentally replaced ' Our friend the frog' with 'Kaiba the frog'.
She laughed in her mind. Not like my subconscious did it purposely because I thought of Kaiba as a friend. As if.
"Ey' you two lovebirds! We're goin ta be last in da line!"
She laughed before turning to Ryou.
He smiled, completely forgetting her former mentions of the CEO. Or had he purposely bypassed the subject for her benefit?
That would be left unknown. For now.
Jou stuffed his face with the hamburger, shoveling it in his mouth. Honda followed suit, almost mimicking his blonde friend and devouring the burger in just three bites.
Yuugi laughed nervously. "You guys shouldn't eat too fast. It's not healthy,"
Honda swallowed his food. "I'm not worried about health, man. I'm just starving!"
Everyone laughed. Honda was still the same.
Anzu was seated between Yuugi and Ryou, while Honda and Jou sat in front of them. Otogi joined them shortly after, which was rare, because he was always content at a faraway table with his fan club of psychotic school girls.
"Hey guys," He grinned wildly, and his group of girls huddled behind him, sighing dreamily in delight.
"Isn't he dreamy?" They all chorused.
Anzu looked at them weirdly. "Otogi?"
"YES!!" They shouted, accusing her of implying Otogi wasn't this perfect hunk they'd put him up to be.
"Hello chap," Ryou greeted, smiling at Otogi.
"I have a proposition for Yuugi," Otogi announced, ignoring Ryou's polite greeting, as always.
Anzu blinked. That's a surprise, normally he comes to make fun of Jou.
"I challenge you to a duel, Yuugi!' Otogi proclaimed loudly, bolting up from the table and pointing at the short- tri-color haired dueler.
Yuugi blinked, mid-bite with his hamburger. "Maybe another time?"
Otogi faltered, before resuming his mocking stature. "Is Yuugi afraid he'll be beaten by the great Otogi!?"
Everyone snickered, except Ryou, Anzu and Yuugi.
His fan club cheered. "O-T-O-G-I! Otogi's our man! If Yuugi can't beat him, no one can!"
The green-eyed dueler grinned. How he loved attention.
Eh-heh.... Anzu couldn't help but find the entire thing ridiculous
Ryou blinked, before whispering to Anzu. "Do you think it'll be a duel to the death!?"
Anzu laughed. "I highly doubt it. Yuugi's better than Otogi. There's no way he can beat him,"
"I hope so," Ryou murmured.
"Get ova' yourself, dice-boy," Jou muttered in an annoyed manner, chomping angrily on his hamburger as he sent his rival a glare.
Otogi chuckled. "Well we all know what happened when I beat mutt-boy here,"
Jou sneered, gradually growing infuriated by the memory. A not too pleasing one at that.
Otogi's grin spread wider. "How about it Jou? Bark one last time for your master,"
Jou immediately bolted up at that. "You're not ma' master, dice-boy! And I ain't gotta do what ya say anymore! Dats in da past!"
"A shame. I enjoyed having you as my slave," Otogi began to toss a pair of dice in the air, before proceeding to catch them in his hand and repeat the action several times after.
Jou reddened in embarrassment. "Shut ya trap! Before I do it for ya's!"
Otogi's fan club pounced on Jou. "Don't talk to our Otogi like that!" They cried in unison, attacking the blonde as he tried to duck and evade them.
Honda cracked up in laughter. "Oh man, that's priceless," He watched amusedly as Jou had ten girls atop him at once, some pulling at his hair, while others futilely tried to hit him.
Jou howled in laughter. "Anytang but dat!" He then let out a shriek. "Ey' keep ya hands to ya self!"
Otogi snorted and looked away from the scene. Well his fan club was somewhat useful, then again their 'attacking' was more like girly-pillow fighting or something...
"Now that that's taken care of," He looked back at Yuugi. "What do you say? Do you accept my challenge?"
Yuugi was gone.
Otogi faltered where he stood. "Where did that midget go!?"
Anzu got up, followed by Ryou. "He left ten minutes ago...."
"WHAT!?" The dueler gave an infuriated grumble under his breath before shouting. "Tell him this isn't over! We're still going to duel, whether he likes it or not!"
Otogi faced his fan club. "Let's go!" They immediately leapt off Jou, obeying Otogi as he signaled them to follow him.
Anzu and Ryou faced one another, before letting out laughter of amusement.
Honda was peeling the twitching Jou off the ground, who kept repeating something about vowing on celibacy.
"Man, they messed him up big time," Honda stated, trying to snap the blonde from his daze. Jou was a complete wreck and he looked like he'd been trampled by a herd of animals. Which was pretty much what happened.
Those girls are very similar to vultures...
Anzu watched them crowd around Otogi like fresh meat, ogling him as if imagining him on a platter.
She shuddered at the thought. Those girls definitely have problems.
" Aren't you coming along?" Yuugi approached Anzu just after school, moments after the bell rang.
"Have to clean the house," Anzu explained as an excuse for her absence to coming along with him and the gang to the Kame Game Shop.
"Oh, okay," His plans of asking her out that night in front of everyone was pretty much smashed. He was somewhat glad for this, being shy like he was, approaching Anzu and asking her out on a date was a hard task for him.
Jou and Honda were high-fiving about something in the doorway of the classroom while they waited for Yuugi, and Anzu, who they thought was coming along.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" He smiled happily when she nodded with an "Of course!"
"Bye Anzu!" With that, he fled from the classroom, walking out with Honda and Jou following.
She smacked a hand to her forehead. I almost forgot!
Rushing, she lugged her book bag over her shoulder after shoveling all her things from off her desk and into it.
He's probably already waiting for me!
Racing out of her mathematics class, she hurled down the hall before crashing into something solid on the upcoming turn.
Oh just great! "Sorry! Really sorry about that!" She didn't waste time to help the person up, as she picked up her fallen things from the floor from before running off without a second look to the person.
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. She needs to get glasses. Or pay more attention to where she's going!
Angrily he stood, dusting off his uniform and adjusting it to perfection, or as close as possible.
He then picked up his briefcase, only to find it open and all his papers sprawled out on the floor.
"MAZAKI!!"
Anzu blinked. Strange....I could've sworn I heard my name....
"Anzu!" Ryou rushed up in front of her with a giddy smile.
Anzu smiled back. Must've been Ryou screaming out my name. Odd though......Ryou never calls me by my last name...
She shrugged it off. "Shall we go get that poster?"
Ryou nodded. "Let's get to it!" He cheered.
Anzu gaped, wide-eyed. "Wow Ryou. You're becoming more and more like me everyday!"
They both laughed. Ah, life was good. That is, if you weren't Seto Kaiba.
Kaiba grudgingly picked up his briefcase, carefully shuffling the important documents back in order, piling them neatly inside the leather flap.
What a nuisance that Mazaki can be. All thanks to her he was going to be practically thirty minutes late in picking up Mokuba.
His elementary had gotten out just at three-thirty. Half an hour after he got off from school at three. Life was so complicated.
And all thanks to her, it took him nearly an hour to put the documents back in order. He glimpsed his Rolex watch with an annoyed glare.
Three fifty-two. I hope Mokuba's alright. He'd better be, for the sake of Mazaki, he'd better be.
Anzu pointed. "Ryou look. Isn't that Mokuba?"
Ryou followed her arm and stared at the short silhouette, seated at the steps affront the Elementary school.
"I believe it is!"
Anzu advanced on the boy. "Mokuba!?" She called.
The boy lifted his head, and the sun lit his face to reveal a distraught twelve-year old boy. Mokuba.
"Anzu?" He meekly whispered, watching the girl approach with an unfamiliar boy following behind her.
"Hey Mokuba. What are you doing out here by yourself?"
Mokuba lowered his head sadly. "Seto hasn't shown up. At first I thought he forgot.....but now it's already been half an hour..."
That's terrible! Anzu thought.
"Well I'm not going to leave you here by yourself. You're coming with me,"
Mokuba sniffled. "But what about Seto? What if he does come and see me not here?"
She helped him up and off the steps. "I'll call him and tell him you're spending the night at my house. How's that sound?"
He reluctantly nodded. "A-Alright,"
He hesitantly clung his arms around her waist, glad she was here, no longer by himself. Anzu smiled and wound her left arm over his small shoulders.
Poor Mokuba. Kaiba can be such a jerk! How could he forget to pick up his own brother!?
Mokuba stayed hooked to her side, but his eyes roamed the streets in hopes of catching glimpse of a black limousine.
Where are you Seto? Mokuba thought. Why didn't you come to pick me up? I-I hope big brothers okay...
" Mokuba!"
"MOKUBA!!" Kaiba frantically searched the elementary, searching every nook and cranny outside. As a last resort, he escaped the downpour that had begun the moment his search for Mokuba began, and headed into the school to demand some answers.
"Tell me! What have you done to Mokuba!?" Kaiba demanded, wringing the collar of Mokuba's sixth grade teacher.
The middle-aged man struggled to pry the CEO off him. "I-I don't know! He left my class like always!"
"Did anyone take him!?"
So stricken by the teenagers violent manner and grip on him, the teacher could only gape in fear as the boy towered several inches above him.
"WELL!?"
When he remained silent, Kaiba gave him a good-rough shake. "Tell me damn it!"
Finally he spoke. "I-I honestly don't know! I-I was here the entire time!"
Kaiba shoved the man from his grip, causing the teacher to stumble back and knock into his desk.
"Some teacher you are," Kaiba spat, before stalking out of the room.
"Wait!" The teacher called, running out and catching Kaiba halfway down the hall. "I might know someone who can help you,"
"Start talking," Kaiba ordered, eyes hardening. Whoever took his brother was going to pay. Dearly.
Anzu sighed. "Mokuba, for the tenth time I promise I won't look,"
Mokuba shifted uncomfortably.
Ryou smiled. "I'll help the little guy get dressed,"
Anzu sighed. "I get it. Some guy thing?"
Mokuba nodded, and Ryou merely shrugged with a small laugh.
"Well alright. Here Ryou, these are the only clothes I could find for Mokuba," She handed him the dry clothes.
Both headed into the downstairs bathroom where Mokuba changed out of his soaked clothes and into a pair of dry ones.
It's a good thing I kept those clothes of mine. She had only a large blue shirt to offer Mokuba to wear, and he reluctantly accepted.
It was either that or her pink, Hello Kitty blouse from sixth grade, and she highly doubted Mokuba would wear that.
Moments later they walked out, Ryou carrying Mokuba's wet clothes, while Mokuba shyly walked out from behind Ryou to get an approval from Anzu.
"Hey, that shirt fits you perfectly," Anzu commented, staring at the shirt that hung to Mokuba's knees, while the short sleeves--well short for her--rested to his elbows.
"Thanks," He flushed. "Can I........can I keep it?"
She thought nothing of it, and merely nodded. "Sure. I don't wear it anymore,"
Ryou smiled warmly. "I'll go put these clothes out to dry,"
"It isn't raining anymore?" Anzu asked.
Ryou looked outside. "It stopped a few minutes ago,"
"Hmm. Well just set them in the hamper by the dryer. I'll put them in the dryer later,"
Ryou nodded and walked back into the bathroom, placing Mokuba's wet clothes in the hamper before walking back out.
"Now to find you some clothes," Anzu eyed Ryou.
Ryou smiled. "I don't mind. I really didn't get wet,"
"Oh yeah? Well I don't believe you! Now go look in my parents' room and grab some of my dad's pajamas,"
Ryou flushed, but nodded. "Your father won't be mad that--"
She interrupted him. "He'll never notice. Besides my parents won't be here for awhile,"
"Oh, alright,"
Now. To change out of my clothes. Anzu headed upstairs to her room, while Ryou went up and went into her parents' room, after several instructions from her on which one it was.
Kaiba finally found the person he'd been searching for nearly ten minutes. "You!"
The man, a janitor, told by Mokuba's teacher to know all, looked up at him. "Yes?"
"Have you seen a little boy this tall," Kaiba leveled his hand to his waist. "With black long hair,"
"Oh yes!" The elderly man chirped, adjusting his glasses after a moments pause. "You mean Mokuba?"
Kaiba immediately lunged on the man, slamming him into a wall. "Where did he go!? Did you see him leave with anyone!?"
The man sputtered. "I-I saw him leave with two people when I was locking up my office,"
Two people? "Who were they!?" The CEO roared, picking the man up by his collar and lifting him off the floor.
"S-Some girl and a boy! I-I believe they came from your school,"
"My school?" Kaiba breathed aloud.
The janitor nodded his head frantically. "The boy was wearing your exact clothes,"
He released him, and the janitor prepared to run off. Kaiba snatched his collar again and pulled him back against the wall, staring him down with utter infuriation.
"What did they look like?!"
"I already told you!" The man wailed, trying to get away, but Kaiba held firm.
"I don't care about their damn clothes! I want to know what they looked like!"
"I-I think the girl had brown hair! Y-Yes, that's it! She had short brown hair! About shoulder length!"
Brown hair? Shoulder length? Kaiba registered the words, before pushing the man harder into the walls surface.
"What about the boy!?"
"I-I don't remember! He was standing behind the girl,"
"And you're telling me you couldn't see what he looked like!?"
The janitor shook his head. "I told you, he was standing be--"
"I heard you!" Kaiba bellowed.
"White-hair! He-he had white hair! I remember," The old man croaked, before releasing relieved laughter of utter joy, complimenting himself just in the nick of time.
White hair? The only boy with white hair at my school is--
"Ryou?" Anzu called, knocking on the door worriedly when he friend remained in her parents' room for a rather long time.
"Are you having any trouble finding clothes in there? I can help if you---"
"NO!" Ryou yelled frantically, before adding. "I-I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute, Anzu,"
"Well okay. I'll be downstairs with Mokuba," She stepped away from the door, staring at it a moment before she proceeded downstairs.
Ryou stared horrified at the Millennium necklace, thumping wildly against his chest, echoing his heartbeat that began to speed up.
It can't be. He can't be.....Bakura can't be back.
