Well, seeing as how I cannot respond to you lovely, lovely reviewers in my story, I will just have to reply to each and every one of you (non-anonymous) peoples to show you my gratitude…I just don't know how I'm supposed to make up to you the fact I'm so slow at updating. Other than the fact my computer was stolen, and the laptop I was borrowing from a friend had a virus on it.
Disclaimer: In the prologue.
Note: You may notice random POV shifts in my writing, but I'm doing it on purpose to try and give it a more…dramatic, I suppose, effect. Whether it will work or not…
"Random"Chapter I: Bets and Schemes
So now you know. Now you know the big, fat secret that has taken the nice, stable routine that was my life, turned it left, turned it right, turned it upside down and then threw it off into oblivion. And so now here I am, left floating along with it, wondering why. Why me, why now, and moreover, why them of all people…
Little Yugi Mouto sat on his child's size bed, big, bright innocent eyes glancing up at his ceiling, full of thought. Little Yugi Mouto turned on his side, his big, bright innocent eyes slanting, a sigh escaping his pale lips. Little Yugi Mouto shut his eyes, clenched his small fists.
Little Yugi Mouto. Little Yugi Mouto.
On the back of his eyelids played a scene, a scene of a stunningly gorgeous brunette dancer sitting on his couch with a no-good, rotten, rebel, enviable and enthralling platinum blonde.
How was he supposed to get her if he was just little Yugi Mouto? To his annoyance, one lone crystal tear-drop, small, pure, and beautiful, slid down his cheek.
If only Yugi Mouto would realize he was just like that crystal tear-drop; beautiful, pure, and small.
Anzu hated it. She was normally a very amiable person; giving casual hellos to anyone who seemed would like it as she walked down the street. But not today, oh no, not today. She had to keep her eyes cast down, watchful gaze glancing up every so often so she could make sure she steered well clear of everyone's path.
She felt it. She felt it like one would feel a spider crawling in their sleeping bags, but be unable to find it. It was so…so…annoying!
He was watching her. Of course she knew it. How could anyone not feel those intense, vivid, probing eyes?
But there was nothing she could do, for he wouldn't show himself, not until she slipped up and got close to someone, anyone.
Although forlornly unbeknownst to the brunette was that there was a plan set into motion. A plan that would not stray from its designated track, and would bring even more disorder and dismay into her life, if it was even possible.
"Excuse me." A young man said, voice with just a hint of underlying amusement and perhaps…eagerness.
Said man had bumped into a child, whom was holding a doll that swiftly fell to the ground. And of course, he being the fine gentleman that he was, had to stop and pick it up for the child.
But what do you know? Completely forgetting her mission to avoid all human life form at any cost, Miss Anzu Mazaki had stooped to help the child as well.
The pair's hands touch, and they both look up. A pair of widened, undoubtedly surprised blue eyes meet the opposite pair of charcoaled crimson, and the young man smiles.
"Random." She gasps, looking to her right to see a tall, lean figure clad in black leather and a motorcycle helmet.
Malik Ishtar.
Anzu slowly stood, an incredulous look and a pretty blush painting her features. Her mouth worked for a minute before any coherent words besides stuttering are heard and she said, "That isn't fair! We aren't allowed to use our randoms on each other!"
A deep, sultry laugh like wine escapes him and he shakes his head.
"Oh no Anzu, not me. Look across from you. Him." Anzu, perhaps with regret, looks across at the young man with the unnaturally large smile and the all too natural mistrustful glint in his eye.
"Why, fancy meeting you here Miss Mazaki." He said with a bit of vim in his voice.
"Bakura." Anzu groans out, taking one step back, Malik and Bakura taking one step forward.
The hapless girl glances from one boy to the next, each looking gleeful and predatory not only in their smiles, but in their eyes as well. Her own eyes slant slightly when realization dawns upon her.
"This was…you two planned this, didn't you?"
Shoulder to shoulder, never losing their smiles, the two glance at each other and back to the girl as they shrug, Anzu continuing her backwards walk, and they their pursuit.
And at last, her salvation comes, in the small package of Yugi Mouto.
"Oh!" She and Yugi both cry out as Anzu turns to look at who she had almost knocked over. She apologizes several times as Yugi daringly glares at the now thoroughly disappointed, and now thoroughly pissed pair of Malik and Bakura.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you, Anzu." She immediately turns, overjoyed for the distraction and shakes her head.
"Oh no, Yugi, trust me. It's no problem at all. Say, how about I come over to your place and we go over the math exam for tomorrow?"
Delightedly surprised, he says yes and offers his arm. Anzu takes it, and just when either Malik or Bakura were able to protest, she turns and grins a Cheshire grin.
"Hey Malik," she says coyly, "Random!"
A girlish giggle floats in the air and Yugi inwardly smiles, knowing full well what it meant.
Malik and Bakura were going to take a hot bath together.
Never had either of the two felt so awkward. Never had either of the two felt so disgusted. And never, ever had either of the two felt so angry.
"This is your fault, you know!" Malik shouted, wincing as he set the cool ice pack to his head. The smack he received from Bakura after asking that dirty little question was, they both knew, pretty much inevitable.
Bakura snorted, throwing a dirty look, as well as a rude gesture, his way. "Whatever. It was your stupid plan."
"Yeah, and you're the one who went along with 'my stupid plan'", Malik retorted.
Bakura sat on the couch opposite of Malik's, letting out an impatient sigh and roll of the eyes. "Look, we don't need to be playing any blaming game against each other; we need to focus on the real one at hand. Little Miss Anzu Mazaki still owes us her random."
"And so do we." Malik replied dryly.
"Uh, really, it's you that owes it, not me."
Malik sat up, gingerly holding the ice pack and glared at the pale-haired man in front of him. "Yes, but you were the one next to me, just as you were the one next to Anzu during hers, and just as you were the one that started this whole bet!"
Malik's voice rose steadily, until he was dark in the face and heavy in the head. "Ugh, and did you have to hit me so hard?" He added, slumping back into the sofa.
Bakura scoffed. "I'm sorry if the idea of being anywhere near your naked body kind of freaks me out."
Malik let out a noncommittal groan, waving his hand towards the other man. "So, like you said before, we still have the matter of the 'randoms' to attend."
And just then, the workings of another scheme began to form in Bakura's mind. The corner of his mouth twitched once, and he leaned forward, making sure to whisper, lest his roommate decide to overhear.
"Why don't we just kill two birds with one stone?"
His headache dissipating, Malik sat up and listened eagerly to the new plan that just may bring about a winner to this bet.
And it would be him, he knew, for there was no one better at his art.
"And so, by carrying the chicken and multiplying it by blue, we get the product of the two's wild monkey sex."
Anzu absent-mindedly nodded her head, eyes fixated on the ceiling as she flipped the pages of the math book in her lap. "Uh-huh Yugi."
Her study partner let out a bothered sigh and decided to sit closer to the entity of his morning, day, and night's thoughts.
"Anzu, you weren't even listening to me."
Again, she nodded and let out a vague reply. "For all you know, I could've asked you on a date to the new dance club." A blush immediately spread on his cheeks after speaking the words, so he turned his face away from her.
At that, Anzu laughed and ruffled his hair, like she would've a younger brother. "Thanks Yugi, you always know how to cheer me up."
He laughed too, a hollow laugh, and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I'm glad I could help. But I do wish what was bothering you so much." He probed, eyes of plum peeking up from his oversized bangs.
She gave him a thoughtful look, but decided better. "I'm sorry, but it's something I think I have to work out on my own, so I think I should probably go home. At least I know I can have some alone time there." She added as an almost bitter afterthought.
"Well alright", Yugi started, helping her pack her things, "But if you ever need to talk, know that I'll be here, Anzu."
It was said with such a sweet, fierce sincerity that it made her stop. Anzu gave him a small smile and stooped down, pecking him on the forehead.
"I will Yugi." She left the room, throwing a "And I promise to stay out of any trouble!" over her shoulder, for she knew he had "the look" on his face.
After saying a quick goodbye to Yami at the counter, she stepped out of the store, squinting and holding a hand above her eyes to shield them from the bright sun.
"Oh no…" A breathy whisper escaped her lips as she began walking, Malik and Bakura heading her way.
"Why can't they just leave me alone?" The devilish duo was heading straight her way, and for sure they had already seen her. "Might as well try not to avoid them…"
She met their gazes head on. But they were different…sure, last time they seemed awfully bright and mischievous…but now…
They made her physically shudder. Fiery. Sizzling. Searing. She stared up at them, licking her lips. If that was just what their looks could do, imagine what she would feel like when they touched her…
Anzu promptly mentally slapped herself. Hard. Her moment of ecstasy was over. When did it become them? When did it become even one of them, for that matter?
"You owe us, Miss Mazaki." Bakura tutted and tsked, his voice like liquid fire and Anzu found she once again lost herself. "I do believe you do." Malik agreed, moving just close enough to be sure his breath tickled her ear.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and shakily said "You owe me too." Both snickered and kept staring her down. Bakura barely constrained his grin. "We know. And we plan to pay you off, but you shall pay us off at the same time."
Gods, his voice was so…
Anzu was swooning. Swooning, utterly lost. She nodded, hearing the words, the sultry sounds, though they meant nothing to her. Mindlessly, like she was under a spell, she took their outstretched hands and followed them to wherever they were taking her.
She just wished she could cool off wherever she was going, maybe lose a few articles of clothing.
And she would.
To be continued…
Ummmm, yyyyyeah. I do believe the rating just may have to go up, and I do believe I would like to do a lemon chapter – exclusively for (my penname will be on my profile once I get one)…or personally sent by e-mail (once internet is up and running).
Questions? Go ahead and ask, and I shall answer (if you aren't anonymous)!