APRICOT SUNDAE
" Dis is lame! I can't believe ya actually wanna go through wit dis, Yug!" Jou muttered in agitation, arms tucked behind his head as he trotted lethargically between Yuugi and Honda.
Honda chuckled, eyeing Yuugi as he spoke to Jou beside him on his left. " Ah, forget it, man! Yuugi's way too far in laa-laa land!"
" More like Anz-land," The blonde retorted in a scoff of protest. " Talk about stalka'!"
" Stalker?" Yuugi breathed with faint offence. " I'm just worried," With an evident afterthought, the small duelist muttered: " You two should be as well,"
Honda grinned slyly. " I've got other things on my mind at the moment,"
" Dey betta' not involve you an ma sista," Jou shuddered. " Dat would be nasty,"
" Nasty?" Honda released a bewildered laugh. " Last time I checked, falling in love was not nasty,"
" In watta'!?" Jou shouted, flabbergasted. " 'Dere ain't no way yer in luv wit ma sista!"
" But I'll tell ya wat ya fallin' for," Jou began, raising a finger. " Ya falling ova dat big 'ead of yers'."
" Hey! What's tha---"
" We're here!" Yuugi chirped in interruption, unconsciously quickening his calm pace to one of excitement and impatience.
Both boys' whirled around to catch glimpse of the small duelist trotting rapidly affront them, before they both ceased their argument and quickly hurried behind the short dueler.
" 'Ey, Yug! Wait up!" Jou hollered, waving his hand in a futile attempt to get his attention.
Yuugi stopped mid-step, and Jou, unable to stop in time, crashed into the tri-color haired boy with a grunt as he was thrown back onto the concrete sidewalk.
" Wat's da matta', Yug? Why'd ya stop?" The blonde prodded, regarding the tri-colored boy with an agitated glare as he rose from the floor while Honda laughed in the distance.
Yuugi, mouth flapping in horror, warily removed his eyes from the object of his transfixion to weekly eye Honda and Jou cautiously approaching from behind.
" K-Kaiba….."
The faint scent of rich mocha, and lingering fragrance of cologne, greeted Anzu's nostrils as she submissively inhaled the alluring smell of masculinity rushing by upon opening the door to greet her visitor.
" What more proof do you need, Mokuba?"
The voice was unmistakable, but the shock and surprise shot through her body the minute she opened her eyes and stared at the domineering CEO.
" Kaiba…?"
Shoulders broad with stiff arrogance, Kaiba curtly leveled his eyes down upon her, baring his witty and aloof nature as hardened blue orbs rested on her placid face.
Quickly she looked away, jittered by the persistent memory his terse eyes had now left implanted in her mind.
Anzu reluctantly eyed Mokuba, shyly flustered with embarrassment behind Kaiba.
" Is something wrong?" Anzu's voice returned weakly, her eyes drifting from younger brother to eldest, as the two boys' remained silent with a brief exchange of looks between themselves.
" I told Seto…." Mokuba swallowed sharply, unconsciously nudging a pebble with his sneaker.
" To make sure your pathetic friend wasn't harming you in any way," Kaiba flatly murmured in continuance.
Anzu gave a nervous laugh. " Ryou? Don't be silly!" If only they knew!
Mokuba gnawed at his lower lip, before peering behind her and inside the elegant home. " Is Bakura still in there?" He whispered, carefully scanning the premises.
Anzu nodded. " Ryou and I are working on a project. Everything is fine,"
Kaiba curtly turned. " Let's go Mokuba, I don't have time to waste on fools,"
Anzu huffed. It's not like I want your help! You probably couldn't even stand much chance to Bakura anyway!
Remembering the spirits presence inside, she urgently pushed Mokuba's small shoulders as she ushered the boy toward Kaiba, who impatiently stood firm at the bottom step affront her porch.
" I don't have all day, Mokuba," Kaiba persisted.
" Yes, Seto," Mokuba hesitated, before clutching Anzu in a fleeting embrace of protection.
Anzu smiled faintly.
It's a good thing jerk doesn't run in the family. She foully thought, momentarily looking at Kaiba attired in casual blue slacks, with an inky trench coat meticulously buttoned over his broad chest.
He's always been a perfectionist. She noted, removing her eyes from his lanky physique the moment his eyes fleeted to her in stoic scrutiny.
Warily she patted the wild mop of hair atop Mokuba's head, currently buried in her belly. The adoring moment was short-lived as she felt a callous hand snatch her upper arm and yank her back inside.
She squealed the moment she was roughly wrenched backward and into the firm build of Bakura's lean figure, retreating Mokuba's small arms as the twelve year old reluctantly let go.
Bakura hoarsely cursed in Egyptian as his eyes greeted Seto Kaiba. Well, well. Seems the pathetic human enjoys visiting often.
Suppressing a disgruntled smirk, he transformed his features into a replica of Ryou's; tender and gentle in quality.
" Evening, Mokuba, Kaiba," He addressed, tightening his grip on Anzu's forearm with his lingering threat in her memory: " Speak or cry for help, and you and your friends will be locked away in the shadow realm for eternity,"
Anzu meekly smiled toward the two brothers. You're hurting my arm!
Bakura chuckled inwardly, huskily whispering in her ear. " That's the point, my dear,"
Kaiba's brow raised a brief millisecond, before dismissing the odd sensation of deceit projected from Ryou's facial features discreetly hidden behind a mass of Anzu's brown hair.
Hanging around these pathetic fools is beginning to affect me. Coarsely he met Ryou's gaze without an ounce of fear.
Bakura wistfully pulled Anzu closer to him as a challenging flicker lit his eyes. " If you'll excuse us, Anzu and I have to finish our project,"
With a firm tug on her arm, Bakura hissed with bitter sweetness. " Isn't that right, Anzu-chan?"
Anzu nodded with a faint laugh. " Yeah, that project sure is tricky. And a killer. It's not as simple as it looks,"
Kaiba's brow jerked up. Why was she stressing those words?
Dismissively he shrugged, lethargic to her cryptic implications. If she was in danger, was it really his responsibility?
It never has, and never will be. Kaiba confirmed bluntly.
" Let's go, Mokuba. You've had enough time," Mokuba heeded his elder brothers warning tone, before trotting down the porch steps with a fleeting glance at Anzu.
Was it just him, or did it really look like something was wrong with this picture? He couldn't figure it out.
Mokuba shook his head. I've already made a fool of myself to Seto. He's not going to be happy about this.
His childish wails and pleas to force the stubborn CEO into coming back to check on Anzu, flooded back with a vengeance.
Definitely not going to be happy with me. Mokuba could only imagine the hour-long lecture awaiting him back at his brother's office.
What have I gotten myself into….
" Bye, Anzu," Mokuba waved, before sighing dejectedly as he followed his brother into the limousine parked along the sidewalk.
I'll give Bakura one thing. Anzu thought. He's one heck of an actor.
" Practice, my dear," Bakura murmured slyly, lightly caressing her hip. The cold, foreign touch inflicted a bolt of shivers up her spine as she quickly lurched away from the spirit.
" Going somewhere?" Bakura purred, treacherously swiping his tongue along her neck as he forcefully wrenched her body smacking into his hard chest.
What's with this guy and licking necks!?
With a sense of hopelessness in her body gesture, she sulked upon watching the limousine vanish from sight.
There goes that idea… It seemed Kaiba had not interpreted her cryptic words of Bakura's deception. And now she was deep in over her head.
Now what am I going to do? There has to be someone---
" Get inside," The gruff and commanding quality of the spirit's voice caught her off guard; mouth flapping in wonder as he shoved her inside the house.
" What are you do---" Her queries were halted upon glimpsing Yuugi in the distance.
Yuugi! And Jou, and Honda! She suppressed leaping with glee as the three boys' approached, but her view was cut short when Bakura's taller body moved in the pathway of the entrance.
Yuugi stopped before going up the porch steps. " Oh, hey Ryou,"
" Evening Yuugi," Bakura smiled at the three. Just what I need. For the damn Pharaoh to show up at a time like this!
" Is Anzu inside?" Yuugi piped, tilting his head to the side to try and look inside, but Bakura's body remained firm, blocking any vision inside Anzu's home.
Bakura jerked his hungry gaze from the Millennium puzzle dangling around the boy's small neck.
" Yes, but she's a bit busy at the moment," He feigned an apologetic expression. " I'll tell her you came,"
" Oh," Yuugi expression fell in displease. " Well, thanks, Ryou! See you tomorrow at school?"
The malicious flicker that passed through the white-haired boy's eyes went unnoticed as the three boys' turned to retreat.
" Of course," Bakura purred. Count on it Pharaoh. No longer will you possess the Millennium puzzle. And not only will it be mine, but the one who will help me retrieve it is none other than your pathetic wench Anzu.
" Man, wat did I tell ya'?" Jou muttered. " Anz is in good hands, Yug. Ya gotta stop being ova-protective,"
Honda scoffed. " Well isn't this coming from 'Mr. Protective older brother', himself,"
Jou snorted. " Wit you as friends, I gotta watch out for Shizuka! Not ta' mention dice-boy who can't keep his eyes offa' ma sista,"
Honda's expression grew foul. " Man! I can't stand that guy! Whose he think he is? God!?"
" Close enough," Honda, Jou, and Yuugi, quickly turned with agape expressions.
" Otogi!?" They shouted in unison.
Otogi grinned smugly, one hand casually tucked in his pant-pocket while the other redundantly flipped a small dice in his hand.
" I'm the God of duelers all around, actually," Otogi corrected, directing his eyes to Jou.
" I even managed to beat mutt-face over there. And might I say you're more appealing with the costume on?"
Jou snarled. " Oh ya!? Keep talkin' dice boy, and wait an see wats gonna happen to dat pretty face of yers!"
Otogi smirked, walking pass the three. " Sorry, but I don't have time to deal with losers like you,"
Jou scoffed. " Which reminds me. What happened to yer cheerleada's?"
The black-haired dueler shrugged dismissively. " A guy like me needs space you know? Sometimes having girls hanging all over me can get boring,"
They rolled their eyes at that. Everyone knew Otogi loved attention. Which ultimately meant he loved having a pack of psychotic fan girls chasing him around with random cheers to boost his already gargantuan ego.
" Right, next he'll be telling' us he aint got green eyes," Jou mumbled, with a cross look.
Otogi supplied a serious expression. " My eyes aren't green, they're emerald,"
Jou scratched the base of his neck. " Emarald? Wat's dat?"
Honda shrugged. " I think it's some kind of chick-wear,"
" Chick-wear?"
Honda nodded. " Yeah, you know that jewelry chicks like to wear? Rings and what not,"
Jou cocked his head to the side. " I think I know wat ya' talkin' about,"
Otogi grimaced. " Enough already you complete idiots! It's no wonder I beat you in a snap," He shouted, glaring at Jou.
Jou snorted. " Only cause I wasn't prepared!"
Otogi smirked to himself. Bet he tells that to the ladies too. If you get my drift.
He laughed as he passed the three boys who eyed him weirdly.
" Dis' takes da cake! Dice-boy really has gone nuts!"
With a fleeting glance before he was completely gone from sight, Otogi murmured. " Least I have some,"
" DAT SON OF A---"
" Bitch!" Anzu clamped her hands over her mouth as she stared intently at the television screen. She had just looked over to see what the former thief was watching, when she caught sight of a man slapping some woman.
" What are you watching, Bakura!?" She demanded, angrily stomping over to glare at the spirit lounged lethargically on her sofa.
" Enjoying this ridiculous stuff you humans seem to enjoy," He muttered, eyes glued to the screen.
" I don't even watch those shows," She breathed to herself.
" It's a shame," Bakura smirked, eyeing her from the side. " You could learn a few things from this woman,"
He returned his attention to the soap opera.
Anzu laughed with incredulousness. " Learn? Excuse me but I respect myself! She's letting that guy step all over her!"
" As you will allow me to do," The smirk that had once captivated his lips, was replaced with a stoic glare of defiance.
She held in a retort. Urgh! Whose he think he is!? When he's asleep, I'll strangle him!
She muted her thoughts the moment he stood from the couch and began trekking toward her; fearing his intentions as he eyes seemingly raked her body with possession she'd never seen before.
She meekly stared up at him in wonder as he towered above her, slyly moving his right hand on her hip to caress the sensitive skin.
" If you wish, I can be rough," He purred the lewd words, flicking his tongue out to dampen the skin where her pulse thumped with excitement and fear.
Anzu swallowed sharply, feeling her throat constrict as he moistened a small area of her neck with erotic swipes of his tongue.
If she didn't know any better, he had to have been some sort of snake in his past life.
That. Anzu thought. Or he's just a perverse spirit who hasn't had any in God knows how long!
She yelped when he squeezed her hips between his hands, and coarsely drew her forward to mold her body with his.
" What are you---"
" You are nothing to me; a part of my plan to retrieve what I truly desire,"
She shuddered, turning her head away from his lips brushing against her ear to breathe the cruel and aloof words.
" Do not forget who you belong to. And to what extents you will go to serve me," He released her, and stalked back to the sofa.
Anzu bit her lip, suppressing a strangled cry to release the tension and anger he'd caused her.
He was messing with her mind, and she hated him for it.
A/N: Oh no! Now what's going to happen? Kaiba won't help her, and Yuugi and the gang are too clueless to realize! Will Anzu be able to take it? And what about Ryou? Is he fighting for control over his body?
Review, and you'll find out quicker!
Here is the poll so far:
Seto/ Anzu/ Ryou: 4
Bakura/ Anzu/ Ryou: 5
Anzu/ Seto: 8
Anzu/ Ryou: 8
Anzu/ Bakura: 5
Seto/ Anzu/ Ryou (Bakura): 3
And can you say WOW!? Anzu/ Seto bumped way up and is now TIED with Anzu/ Ryou!!
As for the others keep voting, and who knows your pairing just may win!
So remember,
Read, Review, And VOTE!! XD
