Ok, here we go with the next chapter. Please let me know if you like it, in short…REVIEW! Thanks to those who have read and reviewed and in response to Kassie's request… do you guys want this to be an Anzu/Malik or an Anzu/Yami fic? (though remember that this is slight romance) Unless I get an overwhelming number for Malik or another couple option it will stay A/Y. Alright, with that done lets get going!
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"You should be thanking your lucky stars that you aren't dead already Benton," Rory said as she descended the steps of the Domino Heights hotel. A mother gave her a stern look but Rory brushed it off. On the other end of her cell phone Benton mumbled some incoherent apologies. "I don't care what damn excuse you're giving me. You knew I had that job in D.C and now Fredrick is giving it to that slut of an agent Cortland! And all because a supposedly 'reliable' travel agent couldn't get me a decent flight home." Rory stepped out of the lounge and onto the crowded Domino City streets and out of the corner of her eye she saw the doorman making crude jesters to her back. "And now I'm stuck in this two bit city," she paused for a moment "you pervert," she said snapping her fingers at the doorman who nearly fell over in surprise. "What the hell is the name of this city?"
"Domino City, miss" he said automatically.
" You hear that Benton? Some useless city named Domino. What the hell kind of a name is Domino City anyway?" She yelled into the phone as she walked away from the doorman. "You are never, ever, working for me again and you can be sure Fredrick and the others find out about this. Start counting your pennies and look for a new line of work cause you are done with us!" And with that she hung the phone up in a great huff. She couldn't believe all of the rotten luck. The D.C. job was going to be what set her for life, now Cortland was going to take it away from her. 'And retiring early sounded so nice' Rory thought with a sigh. Amanda Cortland was part of an association called 'The Syndication' (AN: yes this is stolen from Cowboy Bebop, but I just stole the name. Rory's association is nothing like that!) which funneled their wealthy clients' cases to specially trained agents. Years ago when Rory had first started in 'the business' as it was known she had belonged to the Syndication. But Rory had hated to work under anyone so she had become a free agent along with her trainer and mentor C. Fredrick. Fredrick still did work for the Syndication, mainly training the new agents and acting as an information source. She knew that about every government would love to get their hands on him; she knew a few were looking for her too.
In a huff she entered a tacky looking dinner and sat grumpily in a booth, not waiting to be sat. Around her kids in multiple school uniforms milled around annoying Rory to no end for some reason. 'Maybe because you were ripped away from that?' a nasty voice in the back of her head reasoned.
"Can I get anything for you miss?" an all too cheery voice asked.
"Coffee, as black as you can make it." Rory said grumpily not bothering to even look up at the waitress. "And today's paper if you have it."
"All right! I'll be back in just a minute."
"Wonderful," Rory muttered under her breath as she walked away. A flash of pink caught Rory's eye as a group of school kids walked by. 'God, poor girl" Rory thought as she observed the group of four. 'On many levels. Who would make pink apart of their school uniforms? Some sort of sick-o. I'd kill myself first. And look at those idiots she's with.' The tall blonde was currently ranking something about doughnuts. 'And what's with the short kid? A little brother or something?' At that point the girl shirked and jumped up and down pointing at an article in the newspaper on the diner's counter. 'Now I know why she is hanging with those rejects,' Rory thought as the waitress placed her coffee and the same paper the girl was reading aloud from at that moment. "Thank you," Rory muttered to the waitress who wandered off to the next table.
For some reason Rory couldn't take her eyes off of the girl. 'She's familiar,' Rory finally concluded minutes later as the four began to walk out the door. She turned as casually as she could, trying to get a good look at her from around the tall brown haired boy blocking her view. Only one straight on shot of the girl was enough to cause lightning to strike in her mind. 'Tea Gardner!' Rory realized as a shock ran through her body. Training took hold and she calmed down, waving the waitress over. This had happened before but this girl was a near double of the age-enhanced image on her laptop.
"Refill?" the waitress asked sweetly holding up the coffee pot.
"To go, and quickly" Rory said commandingly. The waitress took note of her client's sudden change in domineer and hurried to the kitchen for a disposable mug. When she returned the girl was waiting impatiently by the door. "One last thing," she said seriously. "The girls' with pink in their uniform," the waitress nodded with understanding "what school is that?"
"Domino Public High" she answered quickly.
"Any idea where that would be?" Rory asked. She had lost sight of the quartet while waiting for her coffee. (AN: Lets face it folks, there is just something that none of us can go without in the morning and coffee is Rory's! I prefer tea, but that's not important now is it? *Silence* Well then…slightly hurt but none the less on with the story!) The waitress shook her head no, disappointed that the little excitement was coming to an end. " No, I don't suppose you would now would you" Rory said slightly perturbed. It took the waitress a moment to realize what she said was demeaning and was about to protest when the girl left abruptly telling her that payment was on the table. Still slightly miffed the waitress went collect the money and was shocked at the amount left. Nearly 100 times the needed amount was left next to a half finished cup of coffee. 'Who was she?' the waitress wondered almost dreamily.
Meanwhile Rory jogged down the street in the direction that she guessed the four had gone in. She was rewarded when she say a white haired boy in the same blue uniform walk through the gates into a three level buildings. 'Perfect!' Rory thought 'I just need to wait a bit and then I'll hack into their computers and get all the information I need. In the meantime,' she looked at the paper tucked firmly in her fist and smiled. Rory quickly found a public library and did some investigative work. "This would have been a lot easier if I had thought to just grab the paper they were looking at," Rory muttered close to an hour later and the list of things the girl could have been so excited about was not very slim. To make matters worse, while speaking Japanese wasn't hard for the American, the reading was slow and difficult for her. Glancing at her watch Rory left the dusty library and made for the school. She wished she had thought to bring her laptop with her but that morning it had just not seemed important. As she approached the school another thought came to mind, she was about to stand out like a dot of whiteout on black paper. 'Damn Japanese schools and their damn uniforms,' Rory thought viciously as she kicked a stone into the road.
At that point in time a limo pulling up to the school's entrance caught her attention. Her jaw practically dropped when she saw Seto Kiaba step out and walk calmly into the school. "You've got to be kidding me," Rory nearly exclaimed. She had so many clients out for a piece of Kiaba it wasn't even funny. She also knew Kiaba wanted a piece of her after she had 'liberated' a new computer program from his mansion. "Oh well, two birds with one stone then," Rory said smiling. Maybe Domino City wasn't so worthless.
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Later in the day as the students exited the school in an excited rush, Anzu left with Yugi and the others, oblivious to the fact that Rory was watching her. "It's going to be so great, me as the lead. And then at the end my own solo, in front of anyone!" Anzu said practically jumping up and down.
"This show can't come fast enough, maybe then you'll finally shut up about it Anzu," Jou said with mock annoyance. Anzu stuck her tongue out at him.
"If I have to put up with you talking about Duel Monsters all the time you can deal with me and my dancing for another two weeks!"
"Kidding! Kidding!" Jou cried in his defense. Yugi, Honda, and Ryou who had joined them laughed at Anzu and Jou's antics.
"It really great that you're finally getting recognized Anzu," Ryou said.
"Thank you Ryou, at least someone appreciates me and my dancing."
"Don't give us that Anzu. Since have we missed a recital?" Honda asked and Anzu giggled.
"I know! I just love giving you guys a hard time sometimes." She glanced at her watch. "I've got to get going guys. But I'll stop by the shop after my lesson if you're still around."
"Sounds good! See you later Anzu!" Yugi called as Anzu jogged off. She didn't get very far however. Turning to wave back to them she ran head long into a girl of twenty something. "Anzu," Yugi shouted as he and the others ran over to make sure Anzu was ok. By the time they got over to her the stranger had already pulled her to her feet and walked away without another word, slightly bumping Yugi on the way.
"You ok Anzu?" Honda asked. Anzu was staring after the girl in what seemed like a mix of dazed wonderment and shock. "Anzu?" he questioned again.
"Ah yea, fine," Anzu stammered coming out of her trance.
"You sure? She didn't mess with you or was rude or anything, right?" Jou asked noting the way Anzu was still acting.
"Yea I'm fine" Anzu reassured them. "She was just kinda, I don't know cold."
"Creepy," Yugi agreed.
"God now I really am going to be late! See yea guys!" Anzu called running off again. The boys shook their heads.
"That Anzu, nothing gets her down." Jou muttered. The other three merely nodded. Rory watched them out of the corner of her eye, checking to make sure no one noticed she had taken the boys deck of cards. She didn't think they would but then again you could never be too careful. But sure enough they walked off as if nothing had happened. 'Good Rory thought as she ducked into the school in search of the girl's information. She reviewed the pictures she had just taken on the mini digital camera hidden in her palm. She knew the girl's first name and had a picture, that should be enough. Along with the boys deck in her pocket and the info that Rory knew she was about to get she should have enough to get a positive ID that this 'Anzu' was indeed the Tea Gardner she was looking for.
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"I just can't believe I lost them!" Yugi said digging through his bag for what must have been the fifteenth time.
"No way you could lose anything that important Yug," Jou said turning up couch cushions. Honda and Ryou where in various parts of the room looking as well, all the while Yami was silent. He seemed to be thinking, his cloudy image almost unseen in the fading sunlight. Yugi noticed his other half's silence and approached him on it.
"You ok Yami?" Yugi asked pretending to search through the drawers that Yami was leaning against. When he didn't respond Yugi looked up at him, innocent purple eyes questioning, "Yami?"
"I'm fine Yugi," Yami finally spoke. "Its just that I sense something, but I can't quite put my finger on it." The spirit sighed, "It doesn't seem as if the world is at stake or something like that. But I feel that it will effect us all directly." Yugi didn't get a chance to respond because at that moment Anzu came bursting through the back door.
"Next time Jou, one message on my voice mail will do! Not 27!" Anzu was still dressed in her dance tights and spaghetti strap tank top. She had pulled a pair of jeans over the tights but they poked out at the top and the thick straps of her sports bra were visible through her top. "Now what was so important that I didn't even have time to change?" Anzu asked slightly concerned. The initial shock of Anzu's heated entrance wore off and Jou was on her in a moment.
"You seen Yugi's deck?" he practically shouted, scant inches from her face. Anzu looked puzzled.
"No. It's missing? Since when?" She asked looking between Yugi and Jou. She couldn't see Yami leaning on the chest of drawers, watching her intently. Yugi did however and made a note to question him about it later that night.
"We went to play as soon as we got to the shop, and that's when we noticed it was gone. I checked them right before we left school, so I either dropped them on the way here or somewhere on the way into the house." Yugi told her patiently.
"And you didn't stop anywhere since talking to me before we split?" Anzu asked logically. Yugi shook his head 'no'. "Hmm, how odd."
"If you asked me they weren't lost. They got stolen!" Jou declared. "That creep Kiaba or that slime Duke." (AN: I have no idea how to spell his Japanese name and don't care to attempt. Sorry!)
"You're just looking for an excuse to fight either one of them Jou, calm down." Honda advised though he looked as if he might agree.
" Yea, anyway, we can't go around accusing people until we have any facts anyway," Ryou told them in his usual quite tone.
"I've got all the facts I need. Kiaba's a desprate stuck up snot and Duke has been sore ever since Yugi beat him at his own game. (AN: Yami and Yugi did win right? I love Duke but never saw the last episode of the matchà I'm such a busy girl!) Plus I rely on a little thing called animal intuition Ryou. Some people just have it stronger than others." Jou bragged, his nose in the air. (AN: Cue sweat drops)
" You've got all the intuition of a dead cat Jou." Anzu said tiredly. "Yugi, mind if I get a glass of water? I left my bottle at the studio." Yugi nodded and Anzu walked into the conjoining kitchen. Just then there was a knock at the door and Yugi rushed to answer while Yami kept one eye on the kitchen, one on Yuig.
"Can I help you?" Yugi asked the woman on the other side of the door. It was odd of get visitors to the house's side street entrance with store's entrance on the main street. She was intimidating and cold, dressed in tight jean caprices and a gray nit top. She wore three pairs of sunglasses; one tucked in her pocket, a second on the top of her head, and a pair covering her eyes. She might have been more attractive, with her rich red hair and inviting figure, if she hadn't initially scared the crap out of Yugi.
"Is there a Yugi Moto here?" she asked simply. Rory forgot the fact that she should have asked for Moto Yugi, as was proper. She could have kicked herself but kept her composer and hoped that they would take her for tourist or something.
"I'm him," Yugi answered slightly afraid as to why she wanted to see him. She reached for her purse and Yugi stiffened slightly. He didn't need to look behind him to know that Honda and the others felt the same way. And then much to his surprise as everybody else's she produced his deck. "Where did you get this?" he asked before remembering to say thank you. He stammered out his appreciation while Jou, Honda, and Ryou joined him in inspecting his deck. It all seemed in order. Though she seemed focus on the boys in the living room, from his angle Yami could see what the sunglasses covered. Her eyes were in the kitchen, and on Anzu. 'What the heck is she looking at' Yami thought. And then he felt it, the same foreboding feeling as before, but stronger than ever.
"Yugi!" Yami shouted though he knew that only Yugi could hear him. The smaller boy looked back over his shoulder at Yami while the others continued to inspect the deck. /Yami?/ Yugi mind spoke. /What's worng?/. "She is what I am feeling, at least I think she is. Whatever the case maybe she needs to leave now. She is inspecting your house much to thoroughly. She must go now." At that moment Anzu walked in with Solomon Moto.
"What's all this Yugi?" Solomon asked eyeing the woman with disapproval, which was quite outside his usual character. Anzu too was looking at the woman questioningly. From his position behind the two Yami could see that the woman was looking at Anzu hard again, though she made it appear all her attention was on the boys and the deck.
"I'm sorry to intrude sir," she said with a slight bow to Solomon. " I found this boy's deck of card outside of the school and thought to return it to him."
"I thank you for that. The deck is very dear to my grandson, now may I inquire as to who you are." The girl smiled sweetly but Yami could tell it was well practiced.
"Of course, my name in Ami Kayamori, I'm visiting some relatives for the week." When Solomon didn't respond the girl stayed silent as well. Yami, who could still see her eyes from behind the sunglasses, did not like what he saw.
" Yugi," he called again. The merest flick of the boy's eyes was all the acknowledgement he needed and Yami took over the boy's body. Anzu noticed the sudden change and wondered why Yugi would be changing with Yami all of the sudden. The truth was the woman did make her slightly apprehensive but not enough that she thought that the spirit's presence was need. "Thank you for returning the deck, but it is getting late and we all must be on our way," Yami spoke as Yugi so all could hear. He nodded towards the door ever so slightly, his violet eyes daring her to challenge him. He was please to note that the girl's attention shifted from Anzu to fully on him. The room waited in silence for the next move.
Rory was no idiot and saw the boy's sudden change as soon as he spoke. He knew she was up to something else and she made a note to avoid the boy in the future when it came to Tea. The coroner of Rory's mouth turned up in the smallest of a smirk that only she and, what was his name, Yugi, saw. With one last look at the girl that she was now nearly positive was Tea Gardner she turned and walked away without another word.
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"Is it just me or was that totally freaky?" Jou asked the moment Yami had shut the door behind the girl. "I mean was anyone else thinking 'The Ring'? She totally creped me out! I mean what was the deal, is it walk into random people's house day or something?" He looked about the room for the answers to the questions he had just asked "Anybody?"
"All I know is that girl had a hidden agenda for being in here." Honda told them. "I mean who just walks into someone's house like that? Especially off of a side street like Yugi's?"
"Someone from America" Ryou put in. Everyone, including Yami looked at him puzzlingly. Ryou shrugged, "Wasn't her accent obvious? Totally American, the have totally different customs than us. Same as in England. When I first moved here it took me a while to get used to all of the customs."
"Anyway it was messed up and I have to get going. Sorry Yugi, no duels today I guess." Yami nodded to Honda who gathered his things. Ryou and Jou followed in suit.
" Come on Anzu. I'll walk you home," Jou called halfway out of the door. Anzu nodded and grabbed her dance bag and then headed for the door. She was surprised when Yugi grabbed her arm to stop her.
"I'll catch up with you Jou, just give me a sec." Anzu called. Seeing what was going on Jou tried to get within hearing distance but Yami closed the door to him. "What's up Yugi? Or should I say Yami?" Her blue eyes studied his own violet eyes as he stared at her intently. In truth it was slightly unnerving.
"Did you know her?" he asked suddenly.
"Who? The red head? No, can't say I do," she tilted her head at his question. "Why? What's up?" He sighed and looked down at her.
"It's nothing really. Just be on your guard Anzu," he told her. She smiled sweetly at him.
"With friends like you and Jou about what else can I be?" As if to prove her point she opened the door resulting in Jou, Honda, and Ryou in a heap on the floor. She giggled as the three eavesdroppers tried to detangle themselves. Yami shook his head disapprovingly as the three bolted for the street. Anzu started after them before Yami stopped her once more. She gave a small gasp when he kissed her in a friendly way on the cheek, but a kiss was a kiss at this point. He smiled at her.
"Take care Anzu," he told her and bid her goodnight. Meanwhile Rory sat in her room at the Domino Heights hotel and thought. 'Anzu Mazaki and Tea Gardner. They have to be the same! Nearly everything points to this. I just need some solid information. God damn you Benton, it seems you're good for something after all.'
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All Right! That is it for this chapter. Sorry it took so long to get out. I got a really bad cold and the medicine I was taking was knocking me out like every half an hour. Plus I'm in a new shoulder brace that made typing hard to a while. I hope you all liked the second chapter of thinking over! Just to clarify; Rory is looking for a girl name Tea Gardner, another reason to use Japanese names, which is why you hear the dubbed name so much. Well that's it all I can say is if the track had been dry Funny Cide soooo would have won the Belmont!!! Horse Racing fans know what I'm talking about!!!!!!! Till next then!!