Disclaimer: I own nothing! Except for the cards I made up and the Circle of Orion. Lestat too!

Note: Keep in mind I have no idea how the points go because every time I catch on they introduce some new rule. Forgive any mistakes. The other part of this chapter will come later in the month. Review responses with it. Thanks to you all!

Best friends Mazaki Anzu and Motou Yuugi sat on the boy's bed, a collection of dueling cards scattered around them.

Yuugi examined one of Anzu's cards with a slight frown on his face. "No offence Anzu, but your deck is rather weak."

Anzu groaned and flopped backwards. "Yuugi," she whined. "I'm not a duelist. I can barely duel at all."

Yuugi looked up with a smile, "That's not true. You smoked Big 2 all because you had the right cards. If we just beef up your deck with some stronger monsters and a few magic and trap cards, you could get a lot better. With all that's happening, dueling skills can save your life."

Anzu sat up and eyed her childhood friend with interest. "You think so?" Yuugi nodded and picked up Anzu's deck and leapt off the bed. "Yuugi, where are you going?"

Yuugi eyed her in disbelief. "Anzu, I live above a card shop…" Anzu smacked her forehead and scrambled next to him. "Right!"

Both tip-toed down the stairs, hoping not to attract Grandpa from his task of making rice balls. Last time that happened, both were sick for weeks.

"…Shine on this life that's burning out!"

Both cringed, it was Grandpa singing a distorted version of the Nekos' latest hit: Shine.

After sneaking past Sugoroku, Yuugi lead her to the storeroom of the shop, where all the stock was. Yuugi pulled several boxes down before leading her to a table in the living room.

"These just came in a while ago." Yuugi said as he was opening the boxes. "I think you'll like some."

Anzu peeked into the box and gasped. "Yuugi! These are great!" The boy blushed and both began selecting cards out of the boxes. When they finished, they looked over each other's selections.

Anzu looked strangely at the card she held.

Spirit Ox

Earth/Beast-Warrior/Effect

400/500

A small, old man with great white horns atop of his head and dressed in a faded brown kimono gazed at her with the innocent eyes of a child.

"Yuugi, why did you pick this card? No offence but, most of my monsters can wipe the floor with him." Anzu said while staring with doubt at the picture.

Yuugi looked to another of Anzu's pick. "It has an effect that triggers this magic card-" he passed her a card with an image of a pouring waterfall: Spring of Youth. "And increases its attack by 2000 points."

Anzu nodded and placed both in her deck. Yuugi nodded and passed her the rest of the cards. Anzu's deck seemed to double in size, from the tiny 40 card deck it was, it nowmatched Yuugi's powerful one in size. "Thanks so much Yuugi, how much do I owe you?"

Yuugi blushed, "Anzu, you don't have…"

Anzu rolled her eyes and fished in her purse. "Yuugi, I would never try to leach off my friend. Well, there was that one time when you had yam-yams in your lunch but that's not the point." She handed him the required yen which Yuugi took, blushing.

"So! Our pretty girl has finally decided to update her deck!" a merry voice boomed behind them. Both teens screamed in shock and fell out of their seats and landed on one of the many giant pillows in the room, in a tangled pile of limbs and odd colored hair.

Grandpa laughed loudly, clutching his sides and shaking his head. "Hoho! You two are just as easy to scare as ever!"

Anzu growled at him and helped Yuugi up; the poor boy was frazzled for certain reasons.

"Grandpa," Yuugi said with a sigh while bending down to retrieve Anzu's purse.

The old man chuckled and placed a hand on Anzu's shoulder. "Now, Anzu, about that song I was telling you about. How about something along the lines of my neck, my back. Lick my-"

The old man didn't get a chance to finish his dirty lyrics, Yuugi had switched with Yami and the spirit had pushed (threw) the old pervert out of the room. Anzu flushed when his gaze turned on her, "Thanks, Gramps is a bit too much for me at some times."

Yami nodded and observed the girl before him. Her hair had grown longer in the past months and the dye had been freshly redone. Anzu was defiantly growing up.

"Please, sit. May I look through your deck, Anzu?" Anzu handed it to him carefully before sitting gracefully onto a pillow. Yami sat down and flipped through her deck at lightning speed, glancing at each card before flipping to the next.

He stopped suddenly and handed it back to her. "Yuugi and yourself made very wise choices, Anzu." He stopped and looked down the table. "Your birthday is soon?"

Anzu nodded a bubble of excitement in her throat. "I-it's in 18 days." She said timidly.

The spirit looked back up at her and smiled, "Are you planning anything?"

Anzu nodded, "There's going to be a concert in two weeks, after it ends we're just going to set it up at there, at the Stardust Village. You two are still coming right?"

Yami nodded and gave her a million dollar smile, "Of course, all of us will be there. We wouldn't miss it for the world, Anzu." Violet met blue as the two teens stared at each other in silence. A thread was woven between the two. Slowly Yami leaned fore ward slightly. Is he?

Anzu closed her eyes after Yami's slid shut. Four inches…three inches…two inches…

Apparently, the Gods were conspiring against her.

Shiki Shiki Bom Bom!

Both of them jerked back wards as Anzu's cell phone brought them back to Earth.

Blushing, she brought it out o her purse and answered it, getting up and moving into another room.

"Anzu speaking,"

"Where are you!"

"Amelda?"

A growl. "No! I'm the Easter Bunny from Hell! Of course it's me! Why aren't you at your house? I've been waiting at your house for an hour, your mother has tried to feed me cookies-twice- and your father keeps asking what we're naming the kids!"

Anzu had the phone an arms length away from her ear at this time, but she could still hear him. When he died down, she returned it next to her ear.

"Why are you getting your panties in a twist?" she growled, he gasped at the word panties. "I was at dance practice and I went to visit Yuugi. Is that okay with you?" she asked irritably.

"No! You have to be in Kyoto in two hours! Most likely you're not even dressed so there goes an hour and that leaves me with an hour to make the two hour trip to Kyoto!"

"That was today? Amelda I'm so sorry I'll be home right away, I'll get changed in five minutes and maybe you can just go a few miles over the speed limit…"

A scoff. "Don't worry about my driving. Don't think I don't know how your's went." He hung up.

Anzu glared at the phone, as if trying to use it to send Amelda the third degree. Seeing is how the phone appeared to be laughing at her she put it away and put her jacket back on. She walked back into the room Yami was seated in. "I have to go. That Wildlife Preserve thing is today, I'm sorry."

He stood and smiled, "No need for apologies, we understand." He escorted Anzu out of the game shop after waving goodbye.

The instant the door closed Anzu broke into a run, all the stamina built from dance was being tested now. Leaping over trash cans and dodging old people. Suddenly her path was blocked by a mass of teenage girls.

One, wearing a red shirt with a glaring tiger on it, stepped fore ward, Anzu gulped.

"Are you Mazaki Anzu?" the girl asked shyly. Anzu nodded slowly, taking a step back.

"Can I have your autograph?" The mass began to run towards her. Anzu's eyes bulged as the mass surrounded her. Papers and pens being shoved at her from all angles. Anzu signed and few while being pressed from all sides. Someone tried to rip out some of her hair as a memento that was the last straw. "Look! It's Godzilla!" Anzu shouted while pointing best she could.

"Where!" The entire crowd turned and she was free. Anzu wasted no time in running the rest of the way to her house, her fan group on her heels. By the time she threw open the door to her house; she was going so fast that she tripped on the carpet after kicking the door shut.

Amelda looked up from the magazine he was reading from the couch. "Good to see you decided to show up."

Anzu groaned and dragged herself to the stairs. "I'll be ready in a minute, Sunshine and Joy." She mumbled the last part under her breath with venom.

"What ever you say." He muttered back, turning the page just as Anzu's mother came out with more cookies.Anzu's mom was now six months pregenate and was beingstrangly...timid.Amelda groaned inside. If that woman feeds me anything more, I'm not going to fit in my clothing. None the less when she left he began to munch on the sugar cookies.

Anzu fixed her hair neatly and placed it in a neat bun at the base of her neck. She was dressed in the gown that Otogi had bought her with a pair of ebony chopsticks crossing at the top of her head. She slipped on a pair of white dress shoes and exited her room.

Amelda was waiting at the door, a sugar cookie in his mouth, chewing. Anzu's mother was cooing while taking pictures. Her father met her at the end of the stairs and hugged her. "My little girl is all grown up." He whispered. Anzu hugged her father back, "You do know, this isn't a date."

He released her and sweatdropped, "Let an old man pretend, Anzu." He said with a smile. Anzu walked to the door to stand next to Amelda. "Now, you two have fun. No funny business." Her father said with humor.

Anzu looked to Amelda, who was still chewing his cookie. "Careful, your going to choke on the if you don't swallow." She joked. Amelda swallowed instantly and walked out the door. Anzu followed, closing it softly.

When Amelda said he would be speeding, that was an understatement. A Godzilla sized one.

Anzu yelped and tightened her grip on Amelda's waist as they sped on the empty highway. They were about ten minutes away from Kyoto and going way over the speed limit. Amelda was confident that they wouldn't have any problems but Anzu had her doubts.

Suddenly, he hit a bump and the motorcycle was airborne. Anzu screamed loudly as they came back down. Her bun had slipped out long ago and the chopsticks joined them soon after. Normally she complained about her hair not having enough lift, but today was an exception; the wind gave it all the lift she needed.

By the time Amelda had pulled into the parking lot it was exactly 6:01. One minute late.

"You can let me go now." Amelda growled at her when Anzu still refused to release him.

"Not until I'm sure you have the keys in your pockets and don't pull another stunt like the one at the gas station." She shot back.

"I was not kidding when I said you had one second." He said smirking.

Anzu tugged on his hair sharply before letting him go and smoothing her outfit, which had surprisingly remained neat. Amelda glared at her before pocketing his keys and getting off. Tugging once again at the black tie he was forced to wear.

Anzu glared back before walking fore ward, towards the entrance of the building. Amelda groaned and jogged to catch up with her before offering his arm, which she took.

The building was very nice, built of white marble and black colored bricks. It turned out the preserve was built specially for reptiles, large ones at that, no friendly turtles. People were walking about, watching the videos on the animals set up around the main room.

"Snakes? Why snakes?" Anzu asked Amelda, who was staring at an information panel.

"M-…Samui-Kagi has a deep love for snakes and serpents." Amelda kicked himself for nearly saying Master Dartz. Anzu nodded and walked away to look around.

Anzu drifted down the hall, people became less scarce the farther she went in. Anzu saw way and the end of the hall. There was a pit the size of her living room and her parent's room combined. The pit was surrounded by fiberglass that came up to her waist and tall tropical plants reached over the top and brushed against her.

Anzu peered down, resting submerged in a pool of water were four massive crocodiles. Each one was about as long as a minivan with a mouth full of teeth. Anzu shivered when one opened its eyes and glared at her from under the water.

"Better be careful, that one is evil." A female voice said from behind. Anzu turned suddenly and felt afraid at first glance at the girl.

Her hair was a flaming red, brushed up and then allowed to droop downwards. Unlike Anzu she had not dressed up for the event and was in a white shirt with buckles tightened around her chest, neck and arms. The pants were also the same style.

"You!" Anzu exclaimed. Oh no! That Taylor girl!

"Taylor" laughed and shook her head. "No, I'm Holly. Not to be confused with Taylor, my twin sis. You're Anzu?"

Anzu nodded shakily. Holly's grin widened. "Nice to meet you!" she boomed suddenly and shook Anzu's hand with excitement. Anzu shook back, relief flooding over her.

"So, do you have a contract with Samui-Kagi as well?" Anzu asked when Holly released her. The other girl nodded.

"My sis and I have a duo act. She uses the wires and I just mess around on top of them." Holly said with a shrug, looking back to the napping beasts. "Looks like you got suckered into coming here as well?"

Anzu stared as well; the one beast was still glaring at her. "Sadly yes, the prospect of being sued and whining to my mother does not appeal to me."

"You're mom's a lawyer? Does she seriously drink blood?" Anzu laughed. "Only on Mondays and Birthdays."

Holly joined her, unsure if Anzu was kidding or not. "You're joking right?"

Anzu winked and walked around the pit. The crocodile's eyes followed her and it moved its massive body off of the others, out of the water and onto the dirt that surrounded the pool, head raised and jaws opened, hissing loudly. Anzu shivered and tried to glare back at it but its eyes seemed even more red that before. "Holly, do you…" Anzu turned to ask the girl her question but found that she was gone. "What on Earth…" she began.

Dagger…

Anzu spun in a circle and bumped into something. Someone to be more exact. And someone that smells very good.

"Mazaki, back away from me and maybe I won't sue."

Anzu looked up slowly, into the eyes of the cold hearted CEO himself. Seto Kaiba. He was dressed in a three piece suit, black slacks and jacket with a white dress shirt. Hair combed neatly as always and a scowl on his face complete with the complimentary glare.

She blushed and stepped back, "Did you see where Holly went? Tall red head?" He frowned at her.

"Mazaki, I saw no one while I was walking down here." He smirked. "Just you making cow eyes at that animal." Anzu stood there, dumb founded for a moment before flushing hotly.

"I was not!" she huffed and crossed her arms. "That- that thing! Was trying to eat me. Its eyes were glowing and everything. It's possessed!" He scoffed and moved over to the pit and glared down.

"Possessed eh? Right Mazaki, it is so possessed. Would you look at that, it's sleeping in water!" he said sarcastically.

"What?" Anzu hurried over to the pit and pressed her face against the glass to clearly see the beast. Indeed he was lying in the water, apparently sleeping. She frowned and shook her head, turning to the glaring boy. "I know what I saw Kaiba."

He scoffed and pulled and envelope out of his suit pocket and extended it to her. "Mokuba wanted me to give this too you. Why he is concerned about you, I have no idea."

Anzu's fingers had barely touched the white paper before he dropped it. Groaning, Anzu bent down to retrieve it. At the same time, Kaiba's fingers brushed against hers in their own quest to retrieve the paper.

What happened next was quite humorous. A person peeking down the hallway would laugh at the ridiculous antics that were to follow.

Both wheeled back at the same time, bursting fore ward to snack the envelope before the other. In result; both heads colliding with each other. Identical curses as both fell flat on their posteriors

Seto was back on his feet in a flash, Anzu followed after tucking the letter inside her purse. Both looked at each other and turned their head away.

"Hey!" It was Holly. The redhead grabbed Anzu's fore arm suddenly. "I was looking for you, Dartz wants you to cut some ribbon—hey," she looked at Kaiba with interest. "Anzu!" she scolded. "You're not here to shoot down guys." She turned to Kaiba with a cheeky expression. "Look, she'll call you. I promise."

Anzu did a sharp intake of breath as Kaiba gave both women the iciest glare in history, Anzu could have sworn the room dropped several degrees in temperature. For a moment she thought her was about to whip out his deck and challenge her to a duel for her life. Kaiba only turned on his heel and stalked with grace out of the hall.

Anzu had little time to wait before Holly dragged her to another room. A makeshift stage was already step up and more members of the news were set up. Once again, Holly seemed to vanish once more. She saw Dartz, standing on the stage, looking calm but highly agitated.

Anzu made her way to stand to the side of him as he began to speak.

"It is with great pleasure, that I proudly announce the opening of this new branch of the Japanese Conservation Reptile Protection Foundation here in Kyoto. As you all know, the reptiles featured in this preserve are quite rare. In fact, our resident groups of redeye crocodiles are a tiny minority of an already small population.

"We hope that by educating and informing the people about each one of these beautiful animals that they will come to want to protect them as much as we at Hoshi Incorporated do. Now to official open; is Mazaki Anzu."

The crowd clapped as Anzu grasped the bright green ribbon that was tied around two of the Greek style pillars that held up the building. She paused as the media took pictures before ripping the ribbon. People started to clap, but inside, Anzu was grim.

This is all way too much pressure. I can't drop a pencil in the hall with out it becoming the front page! Those things? Wonderful animals? Ha! That's a nice one!

Anzu groaned and leaned against the wall. She was bored out of her mind. In the last hour, 20 men over the age of 50 and 3 women had tried to dance with her. Amelda was no where to be found, if he was in range, she would grab him so no one else would approach her.

Seto, darling!" a high voice called out. Anzu turned her head to see a tall, skinny blond latching onto Seto Kaiba's arm. Kaiba himself looked deeply agitated like a caged wolf. The woman seemed oblivious to his anger and was flirting shamelessly with him. Anzu would have smirked in triumph if she didn't spot the short old man making his way to her. She did what any girl in her position would have done.

She grabbed Kaiba's hand.

"Kaiba," she said with a soft and worried voice that even made her sick to her stomach. "You told me we were going to dance. What happened?"

Seto stared down at Anzu with confusion for a moment, but got the hint after she mouthed something to him. Swallowing his pride, he looked down at her and answered.

"I was…detained." He looked at the woman with an icy glare. She released him instantly and moved away, not before sending Anzu the most evil glare in the history of man kind. Anzu looked back and saw the short old man with a perverted grin on his face.

Quickly she pulled Kaiba away from the wall, where the woman had him cornered like a wild animal, and began to dance slowly with him.

"Mazaki!" he hissed. "What are you doing?" never the less, he was dancing as well with her.

Anzu glared at him, "I just saved you from Buffy the Man-slayer, and you can save me from horny looking old man right behind us." She jerked her head back and he followed her gaze. His eyes widened a tiny bit before returning them to normal.

"Fine, only for a while. And if the mutt finds out about this…" He threatened.

Anzu rolled her eyes, "I know, I'll never work in this country again, or you'll kill all my loved ones and hide the remote from me."

He didn't answer.

Amelda was mad.

Mad that Anzu was dancing with a monster.

Mad at himself for caring if she was or not.

Pissed beyond all levels at Kaiba for existing.

He scowled deeply and leaned back into the shadows. A few bimbos had come up to him, but one look sent them packing. Dartz had left after the ribbon was cut and Varon and Raphael were most likely at Doma head quarters, playing cards or something else.

Amelda resisted the urge to strangle every single person in the building, they had the money to spend and waste while there were people all around the world in trouble. Children like the ones in his home country hungry and homeless by war. A war that they never asked for.

Wearily, he ran a hand through his red mane. Why can't this whole thing just end? This party is ridiculous.

"Are you bored Amelda?" Seya.

Hiding a sneer, he glared at the woman. "What do you want, Seya." He asked coldly.

The ebony haired woman smirked and rested a hand on his bicep. "That wretched girl has been talking about you with that Kaiba-boy." As Amelda tensed drastically she smiled and continued. "Their whispering about you now, about the way you look, dress, even the way you talk." Indeed, Kaiba and Anzu were talking, but not about Amelda. "He called you a low class loser. She agreed with him."

Though Amelda didn't notice, a green ring was glowing softly on her right hand. His eyes drooped slightly before they snapped back open, and Seya sauntered away cockily.

Anzu was approaching him, her eyes alight. "These you are!" she exclaimed happily.

"I lost you in the mass of people." She looked at him for a moment. Was that anger in his eyes? "Amelda, are you alright?"

He glared intensely at her before answering, "Let's go."

Sorry if this is rushed and all, the next part will be better.