NOTE: Again, sorry if I don't catch all my "Anzu/Anzu" and other people mistakes. I'm new to the whole Japanese name-using thing, and it's confusing me in all my stories, though, naturally, the American way is more natural. Anywho, thanks for all the updates! Oh, and, not now but later into the story, after a couple chapters, I will, yet again, be announcing a VOTE. You know me: can't decide who Anzu is gonna get to go with. Soooo…that's what you readers are for! You'll get to decide who Anzu goes with: Seto, Mokuba or Noa! Remember, they'll ALL be acceptable! However, don't cast your votes in now. I'm just warning you ahead of time. Ill announce when the polls open, later. First, I'll have to get in some…scenes, and no matter which way the poles roll in the long run, there will be scenes for each boy and Anzu, until the time to choose comes along. Then, I'll work with that lucky guy. Anywho, enough blabbering: on with the story!
Disclaimer: Dang you, disclaimers! You're always a line more before the story can be read! Blast you! I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! I don't I don't, I DON'T!
Chapter 3: Changed Lives
"WELCOME HOME, ANZU!" her friends all shouted out at the doorway. Anzu gasped, as she entered, never having suspected this. Sure, she had planned to go home, call them up, and possibly visit (if their schedules allowed) the next day, but never a surprise party-type idea.
"Guys! Oh my gosh, it's so great to see you again! I'm…I'm so glad to be home!" Anzu cried, and she hugged the nearest person to her, tears of happiness running down her face. The nearest person to her happened to be Yugi Muto.
She stepped back and looked at the person she had randomly hugged. Her eyes widened. Was this Yugi Muto? Yugi's already large eyes (which had narrowed slightly over the years) widened too. This was Anzu?
"Yugi?" Anzu inquired, staring at him, dumbfounded. Dang, it, he had changed! No longer was he a tri-colored, spiky haired kid. Now, he was a tri-colored, normal haired man. Well, semi-normal, at least. The blonde in his hair had been re-shaped to not fly off in awkward directions. Instead, they had a curved feeling to them, and ended in spiked ends (just imagine Marik's bangs, and you'll pretty much get the picture).
The rest of his hair was now normal looking: combed back (say, maybe in a Seto-like fashion), yet still a bit "messed up" looking, if you catch my drift. To put it simply: he had changed.
"Wow!" Anzu was still admiring Yugi's new look. Little did she know that he had had this look for a good five or six years. Sure, he had told her that he had cut his hair, but she had never imagined something so major. Back at Katsuya and Mai's wedding, he had still had the spikes, though a bit tamed.
Now, though, she had to go around to her other friends. She took turns hugging them, and seeing their new looks, if much, at that.
The changes:
Katsuya Jounouchi: Not much changed with the physical appearance. But, over the years, she had heard the change in his heart, and brains. His language was also less New York sounding.
Mai (Valentine) Katsuya: She had disposed of a bit of her long locks. Her flowing hair now stopped just above her mid-back. She also, had obviously, gotten a bit away from all the revealing purple clothing. Not to say she wasn't the biggest in conserving, but she was wearing different colors, and less showing clothing.
Shizuka Katsuya: She had chopped her hair short; I mean, above her shoulders, short. She still had kept the short (now longer) strands of hair in front, though. And, she had grown taller. She also, was less dependant, and more outgoing and such.
Honda Hiroto: Gone were the days of a pointed hairstyle. Now was the time of just a normal head. To put it plainly, he had a normal type of boy's haircut, where his hair was fluffed just a bit elevated above the head. He had also gotten rid of most of his flirtatious ways…not to say that he didn't still use them sometimes. He was now dating, as Anzu had heard, an old classmate named Miho (I don't read the manga, but this is just a character I've heard about, and heard that Tristan liked her a lot in the manga and such).
Ryou Bakura: Ryou's white hair had been tamed well. It was still a bit long, though not as much. It certainly was less shaggy and pointy looking. It was pushed back, and he let the ends swerve off near the end. That isn't to say that he didn't still have a few pointed locks here and there. And about Bakura: he had been under more control over the last few years. Let's just say Ryou had had some meetings sessions with Yugi on "How to Control Your Yami." For the most part, it had worked.
And of course, everyone noticed the change in Anzu, as if it wasn't evident.
"Anzu, dear, have you forgotten us?" a familiar voice suddenly said. Anzu whipped around, and smiled brilliantly.
"Mom! Dad!" she ran to hug her parents tight. It had been so long since she had seen any of them: friends and family. She turned back around to all her smiling friends, and said, "You guys are the best."
The small Welcome Home Party was underway. Right now, Anzu's parents were in the Jounouchi's kitchen, preparing some of the special Mazaki recipes for the dinner tonight. The others were in the living room, chatting and catching up on old times.
"So, anything new that I should know about, guys?" Anzu leaned forward, inquiring.
"Well, what do you know?" Katsuya laid back.
"Not much…. Just that there's been a lot of change here, and that I was next to Kaiba on the plane…" she saw everyone's eyes go wide, "Except, I didn't know it was him!" she quickly recovered, "I only found out at the airport, when I ran into Noa and all…."
"I see," Katsuya said, narrowing his eyes slightly. Even though the group's communication had become better with the Kaibas, Katsuya was still a little testy around them, especially Seto Kaiba.
"Yeah, so…what about you guys?" Anzu inquired. The guys all looked around, towards the married couple.
"She's here, you know," Otogi reminded them.
"You said…" Yugi started.
"You're right," Katsuya shook his head, smiling. "Tell her, Mai."
Mai blushed slightly, "Well…I'm…pregnant."
Anzu's eyes widened, "Wow! Oh my gosh! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!" she went over to hug Mai and Joey. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Mai replied.
"How long?" Anzu asked.
"Three months," Mai replied.
Anzu gave her the I-don't-believe-you look, saying, "Why didn't you guys tell me before?"
"We wanted to wait until you came home," Mai replied, slightly guilty looking.
"Oh well, at least you told me!" she laughed. "So, anymore surprises? Engagements, girlfriends or boyfriends…what?" Anzu looked around. She knew about Otogi and Shizuka. She had heard about Honda and Miho. Really, the only no-news people (except for their looks) were Yugi and Ryou. She looked at them, expectantly.
"Nothing more, I believe," Ryou looked over at Yugi. So, the old gang talked about the past years: accomplishments, failures, changes and all that sort. The party continued on until near midnight. That's when the goodbyes (for the day…or rather, the next day) were said.
"See ya later, Anzu," Jou said, he and Mai standing at the doorway.
"Farewell!" Ryou hopped into his small Volkswagen.
"Later!" Honda hopped onto his motorcycle.
"Bye," Yugi gave Anzu one last hug, and she returned it. Otogi stood at the door to his car, Shizuka getting into the passenger's seat. Anzu would be in the back, until they got to her penthouse apartment. Otogi, like the gentleman he was, was going to drop his fiancé off at her home. It wouldn't be long though, before they shared the same home. Only a month or more….
The Ferrari stopped in front of Yukington's Housing Apartments, where Anzu was to live for the year. She stepped out, and ran inside, before grabbing her bags, to check in, and receive the key to her new home.
"Hello miss," the lady at the registration desk said, in a happy way. Anzu was surprised that the woman could be so peppy this late at night.
"Hi. Um, I'm here to move into my new penthouse," Anzu blubbered.
The young woman gave a peculiar look, and opened up a book of new movers. She scanned the page, "Miss…Mazaki? The Anzu Mazaki?" she replied, flabbergasted.
"Yes," Anzu smiled.
"My word! It's a pleasure to be of service to you, madam. I just need you to fill out these forms, and I'll be back with your key! Then, you can move right in! Did you need any help with your luggage?" the woman blabbered.
"Um, do you have a luggage cart?" Anzu inquired.
"Yes! Be right back!" and she disappeared. Anzu shook her head, and began filling out forms.
Minutes later, she appeared back outside, and found Otogi and Shizuka wrapped up in their own personal emotions. Anzu smiled and retreated to the trunk of the car to get out some of the belonging back in there. She hoisted these out (some with great difficulty), and closed it. Then, she walked over to the side of the car.
Anzu cleared her throat, "Um, sorry to interrupt, but…I need to get my stuff. Thanks for the ride, though. It helped a bunch, Otogi. And thanks for the help at the airport. You're a great friend," she gave Otogi a friendly hug, and then proceeded to taking her luggage into the complex. The cart had been moved there, for her convenience, and once everything was upon it, she waved to Otogi and Shizuka, and watched the Ferrari turn around and drive off.
She sighed. She was now on her own, back in Domino. A happy year lay ahead.
Anzu hulled the heavy cart down the smooth, concrete balcony of hers. She looked over the edge of the railing down to the street below. Other than that, there wasn't much else around. After all, she had made a purpose to move to the outskirts of Domino. She stopped, and just leaned on the rail, taking in the crisp night air.
A beautiful full moon lay overhead. A breeze blew some strands of her hair. She gazed out at her surroundings. It was so peaceful. She could barely hear the buzzing of Domino. The city lay out to the right, a few miles away. She could see the skyscrapers, and, most reflectively, the Kaiba Corp. building. This reminded her of something. She turned her head in the other direction, and sure enough, out away a little beyond her penthouse, she could see a light on in the silhouette of the Kaiba Mansion.
No wonder Kaiba liked being away from everything, and had chose to stay there. It was such a calm place here.
She tore away from her gaze, and opened the door to her complex. She pulled in the cart, and flicked on the lights. She gasped. It was better than she had imagined. It was…gorgeous!
She closed the door, and walked around. The living room (a LARGE one, I might add) was surrounded by floor to ceiling windows, which were currently closed by velvet, maroon curtains. The carpet below her feet was a soft and fuzzy texture, with a light maroon-ish color.
There were a few things that had come in with the first payment on the complex. This included a big screen TV; a few plush, light green couches; a couple light blue chairs dotted the grounds, and a few landscape pictures hung on the walls. Of course, she could do whatever she wanted with the place. It was hers. She could trade out couches, paintings and whatnot, and give them back to the establishment if she decided to buy new ones. Besides, would the management really object to Anzu Mazaki's wants? No.
Over to the right was a walk-in kitchen, with cut-in walls, that showed the living room from it. The kitchen was complete with the usual necessities, and a small table. It could walk in (to the left) into a medium-sized, green themed dining room, with a furnished set of furniture; table and cushioned chairs.
She walked out of the dining room, and walked through the large living room. A small hallway broke off from it. She looked down it, and saw four doors.
One led to the dining room (it was an open dorrway). Another led into her bedroom. Yet another let into a spare bedroom. The last; she opened it up to reveal a LARGE walk-in closet. It was big enough to fit a king-size bed in, and still have a tid-bit of walking room. She then noticed a cord falling from the ceiling and pulled on it.
The tile fell down, and out slid a ladder. She climbed up, and found herself in a small attic. However, this attic was big enough to walk in, and had a few windows. She could use it for whatever. She found another door and opened it. Man, she thought, this place is such a mess of rooms and doors! I never expected this much! She walked through, and found herself on the roof of the whole apartment building. A rail ran around the whole of the top. But it wasn't just the fact that she was out here. It was the fact that the top was a whole garden! The ground had been beautiful enough, but this was paradise! It had a small pond, with a small fountain, and trees (surprisingly), bushes, and plenty of flowers! It was spectacular. There were small walkways for anyone's use. And she had direct passage to it. The others living here had to use the elevator, which ran up one more floor, she saw.
After climbing back down, she walked back to her living room, and explored further. She found that a bathroom broke off from the large living area. She opened it up, and found that it was a sectioned bathroom. The small part had a sink, and as usual, a toilet. A beach type theme ran through he small part, and ran into the next section. White doors cut off these compartments.
Anzu walked through, and opened up the door. Here, she saw a door (leading to her bedroom), a shower, and a Jacuzzi (/bathtub…I have one of them, but that's beside the point). Another door branched off, leading to another toilet section, which, she was sure (and she checked) led to the spare bedroom, which also had another quarter for showering and bathing. These bathing quarters also had sinks, and counters, with indents, made for the chairs that sat there, so that one could sit and put on her make-up or whatnot.
Finally, she walked into her bedroom. Her face lit up. My, was it lavishing! It was a lavender themed room: a king-size bed lay in the middle; a polished wooden dresser lay on the right side of where she stood, and a small television was posted a bit away from the edge of the bed, but one could still lay in it and watch. There was also a small two-seater couch, where you could also watch television.
A desk was placed inside, and a bulletin board; a bookshelf, and another walk-in closet (this one was for clothes though), were within her room.
Anzu fell onto her bed, and closed her eyes. This was going to be great….
Seto Kaiba sat at the kitchen table, that Sunday morning, with a cup of coffee at his side, and opening up a newly delivered newspaper. It was about 9:30. He was still in his pajamas, but also in a robe. He could take it easy today: no work.
Sure, Seto may have always seemed like the efficient, punctual, sort of guy, however, he could still be partially normal.
He took a sip of coffee and scanned the front page. At the same time, he heard his brothers coming down the grand staircase just a bit away from the kitchen doors:
"My gosh, Mokie, she was gorgeous!" Noa babbled.
"I heard you, Noa, for about the fifteen thousandth time! I get the point! Anzu's back and she's really beautiful now!" Mokuba retorted back, irritated. Not that he hadn't thought Anzu had been pretty as she had been nine years ago. But Noa was starting to really get on his nerves, with this constant blubbering about Anzu.
The two entered the kitchen, just as Seto noticed something at the bottom of the front page of the paper. His eyes widened as he read the small article.
"Morning Seto," Mokuba poured himself some coffee. He was going to need something if he was going to listen to Noa all day. Noa slumped down into a seat, in a dream like faze. Obviously, he was giving this new Anzu a lot of thought….
"You know, Mokie, I just remembered something-" Noa started.
"Wait! Let me guess…Anzu was-"
"No, not about Anzu," Noa reddened slightly, "it was at the airport yesterday. You're the smart one-"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mokuba looked at him suddenly, indignantly.
"Nothing…" Noa tapped his two forefingers together, in a shy fashion, "Just the glasses…" he mumbled.
"NOA KAIBA! After all these years you still act like a kid with this: glasses are for nerds thing!" Mokuba stood up, jiggling the cups of coffee. Or should I say, cup? Seto, seeing the argument coming, had picked his up, while still reading. "And you're supposed to be the mentally older one! Good Lord!"
"Mokie, calm down! It's just a joke! And what's this about me acting like a kid?" Noa stood up, ready to pummel Mokuba…like a bully pummels a nerd…excuse the pun.
"Shut up the both of you. You both sound like bickering kids…again. BOTH of you. Now, Noa, continue what you were going to say; Mokuba let him state his thoughts; and the two of you just keep your threats, insults, etc, to yourself," Seto acted as a father/mediator/real older brother/someone not really interested in the argument, due to the fact he had said this all while still reading.
Both brothers looked at the older Kaiba, and then sat down.
"Resume," Mokuba replied.
"As I was saying," Noa implied, "Maybe you can figure out this weird thing…. I don't you. You may not have a care in the world, but I sort of found it strange that yesterday, when we came out of the airport…not that I wanted them to be there, but the reporters were all to enthused in someone else, and completely ignored us. Who do you think could be that powerful, to direct their full attention? Last I heard, Seto was the biggest hotshot in Domino," Noa explained.
Seto gave him a what-the-heck-did-you-just-call-me look from across the table.
"You're right…that is sort of…strange," Mokuba pushed his glasses up, from slipping off the bridge of his nose.
"Well, here's your answer," Seto slid the paper down the table, "Bottom of the page. Look who it is." The two other brothers looked at the picture. Noa's eyes widened, "Anzu!"
Mokuba looked up at Noa, "That's Anzu!"
"Ha!" Noa laughed, "I told you she was gorgeous!"
Mokuba held his glasses up to his eyes, "Gosh dang it, you're right!" He reddened slightly, "She's…beautiful!"
"Told you," Noa grinned slyly at his brother. Seto rolled his eyes. Those two plus girls equaled irritation…for Seto.
"But why would she be in the paper?" Noa suddenly asked.
"I don't know…maybe you should read it," Seto smirked, sarcastically from the other side, taking a sip of coffee.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Noa glared at him, and shoved Mokuba slightly out of the way, to get a better look.
"Hey! Watch it! Last time I heard, you don't hit nerds with glasses!" Mokuba pushed Noa out of the way.
"Well, last time I heard, you weren't a nerd!" he shoved his brother aside.
"Move it!"
"You move!"
"Scooch!"
"Move your carcass!"
"Oh give it here, you two-year-olds!" Seto finally said, fed up with their bickering. Honestly, he swore those two had gotten more than eye damage from that lab accident….
"I'll read the dang story aloud," Seto replied.
"Fine," the two sat down, and crossed their arms, glaring at each other.
Seto read the article:
Welcome Home, Anzu Mazaki!
By: Umi TamiakaAnzu Mazaki, 28, just returned from New York, New York, U.S.A. yesterday. It has been said that she has come back home, to Domino to take a year's worth break from her dancing career, and revisit her home. MISS Mazaki left Domino nine years ago, and has quickly made her way to the top of popular dancers in America, and slowly, has come quite famous all over the world.
Indeed, even though she's still unmarried, she has quite the aim for friends. Dungeon Dice Creator, Otogi Ryuugi was said to have come pick her up from the airport yesterday. After further investigation, it is reported that she has indeed spent some time, in America, around other famous celebrities. Miss Mazaki seems to be aiming high for those on a romance list, though her supposed friends; Mr. Ryuugi is engaged to Miss Shizuka Jounouchi. Thus, it will be a year of celebrities, here in Domino: home to Misters Seto, Noa and Mokuba Kaiba; Mr. Otogi Ryuugi, and our homecoming Miss Anzu Mazaki.
Seto folded the paper and set it down, after finishing.
"So that's why all those reporters were there! Anzu's famous!" Noa responded.
"Yep, quite the catch," Mokuba had slowly reached over, and grabbed the paper, gazing at the photograph in there of her.
"You think she's beautiful there-" Noa leaned over, "She's ten times more beautiful in real life!"
"I'm not doubting you this time…though it's hard to imagine anyone being that stunning."
"Well, she just broke the record," Noa replied. Seto sighed, and stood up. This conversation was going far enough as it was, for him to be there. He didn't care at all for Anzu Mazaki…even though part of him had wanted to find her back in the Big Apple. But that was no matter. He had just sort of wanted to see if she had accomplished anything in those nine years. Obviously, she had.
He still heard the two groping the paper, "Mokuba, don't you have a girlfriend or something? This incessant talk is driving me crazy."
"Get used to it. Seto, you know those stupid dates the company makes me go on. I don't have a girlfriend. I may have had one once…or twice…maybe three times…but I dumped them all. They weren't worth anything," Mokuba said, not paying much attention to him.
"Well, at least you've got one prospect right: to dump them. However, there's the overall thought that you're actually giving thoughts to even dating these women." Seto didn't get a reply. Either Mokuba had dismissed Seto's usual moral, or he was too engrossed in the picture of Anzu. Seto exhaled slowly, walking up the stairs. He hoped this next year went by quickly. Then, Anzu would be gone, and he'd never hear of this again…unless she came back years later. But by then, hopefully, his brothers wouldn't care…or, if worse came to worse, they'd already be married.
Something told him thought, that it wouldn't be that way. Something told him this year would drag on forever…and that something unexpected would happen…involving Anzu Mazaki.
Well? What'd you think? Was it corny? Stupid? Crap? Okay? Good? TELL ME! Really, this chapter was only to get a few facts across, like the previous two chapters. The next chapter (I think) starts the real "fluff" as I think it's called. Maybe just the more romantic parts of the story…who knows. Oh, and if you were wondering, "If Anzu's parents are still alive, why isn't she staying with them, instead of spending money?" think of it this way: if you were rich, and like…28 years old, which would you take: a normal house, or an extravagant penthouse? Money is no big issue for her so…. The penthouse, you say? I thought so…. Later! PLEASE REVIEW!