NOTE: I'm loving this story! I can't stop writing it! I had to write more! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! (I also don't own the song "Any Way You Want It" by: Journey that was originally in this chapter.)

Chapter 11: Stress Reliever

Anzu grabbed her purse from her desk and immediately brushed down the hallway with the lost files still in hand. All she had to do was drop these off at the designated areas on her way downstairs, and she was out of here. For the day at least. She had to return tomorrow for work.

But it wouldn't be easy facing Seto again tomorrow.

Anzu bit her lip and cursed herself as she dropped off the first file in one of the offices. How could she have done such a thing? How could she have kissed Seto Kaiba!

Anzu gave herself a little extra boost and kissed Seto. Why, had been beyond her. She could feel the small jerk of surprise jolt within him as she first made contact with his lips.

And everything had gone uphill from that.

Or, depending on the way one looked at it: downhill.

Anzu was still holding the files against her chest, yet they barely had any room to be in as Seto had taken her upper arm lightly and pulled her closer. His hand started snaking its way down to the small of her back, keeping her in.

Anzu even let go of the papers with on hand and caressed his jaw. Seto's other hand made its way to her free hair and started combing through it.

Each one was practically oblivious to what they were doing. They were just…acting it out. Purely emotion.

But if it was purely emotion, then wouldn't that mean-?

Anzu suddenly snapped back to reality as these thoughts crept into her mind. She jerked away from Seto and stood for a second, just looking into his own stunned eyes. His hand was still raised from where it had been in her hair.

Anzu gaped and suddenly ran off. She didn't bother saying anything. She just ran though the door, slammed it shut and grabbed her waiting purse on her desk, without a side-step in the hallway.

And that was what had happened. Somehow, she had lost control back in there –being so close to him. Now that she mentioned it, they had both lost control! She could barely remember it, but she didn't recognize the different sensation she felt when his hands had been touching her like that.

Anzu groaned as she dropped off even more papers. This would be a nightmare to be remembered. Seto would never let her live it down.

Still…that kiss!

Anzu quickened her pace. Just one set of papers left to deliver-

And SMACK!

Anzu stiffened as she ran into somebody. "Sorry," she mumbled out, looking up. There stood a surprised looking Mokuba.

Mokuba blinked behind his glasses, "You look quite frazzled, ma'am."

"Frazzled? Heavens no!" she smiled back lamely, and looked at the papers. "Oh…here," she shoved them into his hands and walked away. The image of him brought back another kissing scene…. Two different guys? So soon? …In the same family! Anzu ran out of the building once down the stairs.

Mokuba watched Anzu –er, Tea Gardner- rush down the stairs. He looked down at the papers. Indeed, they were addressed to him; however; the way she had handed them to him had been all but natural. He would have to ask Seto about this….

"Ready to go Mokuba?" a voice came up. Mokuba looked and saw Noa pulling on a coat and heading towards him.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, just a sec," he replied.

"What's got your mind?" Noa inquired.

"Oh…nothing. It's just that Miss Gardner has been…acting strange lately. Especially just now-"

"Strange how?" Noa's face became one of strong concern suddenly.

"I don't know…. She just seemed really distracted. Kind of forlorn too-"

"I'm leaving separately," Noa suddenly announced, jumping into the elevator.

"Why?" Mokuba inquired.

Noa didn't answer him directly, "You probably should know…Seto's been keeping secrets from us-" the doors shut on him.

"What secrets?" Mokuba furrowed his eyebrows.

"Excuse me?"

Mokuba turned around, "Oh, hey Seto. Did you…uh, happen to catch what Noa just said?"

Seto narrowed his eyes, "No."

Mokuba stood a little straighter, "He says you've been…keeping secrets."

"I have a right to, don't I?" Seto walked down the stairs.

"Yes," Mokuba answered, grabbing his coat from a nearby rack, "But I don't think Noa really meant personal secrets." Seto glanced at him from behind.

"If you really must know…I'll tell you in the car."

Mokuba rolled his eyes. How typical of him!

Across an entire ocean and continent, Larry Marnar Sr. sat at his desk scrolling over dates for upcoming events. However, his mind was not completely focused on the events of the calendar. His star –Anzu Mazaki- was on his mind.

He worried about her. She had been gone for almost three months and he barely heard from her nowadays. He constantly worried about her welfare. What if she got herself into trouble?

Men were his primary concern for her. They really could be her downfall. Lar kept it no secret that she really was a gorgeous woman. If some man gained hold of her, then who knew what would ensue since he wasn't there to watch over her? On the other hand, she really did need to start dating someone if she was destined to marry.

In fact, someone was coming to talk to him about that today.

Larry Senior knew very well of his own son's feelings for Anzu. He was all for those two, however, he had noticed that Anzu just didn't seem to care for Larry Jr. the same way as his son did. Besides, this was indeed Anzu's life and future.

I just hope she chooses the RIGHT man.

Suddenly, the door to his office opened. Larry stood up, smiling.

"Welcome Mr. Cr-"

"Please," the white haired man came further into the room, "Call me Max.," he smiled as he shook Larry's hand.

"Alright, Max," Larry nodded. "I just thought-"

"I have many aliases," Max replied.

"Yes…. Please, take a seat." Max did so. "So, uh, Max. What was it about Anzu that you wanted to speak to me about?"

"Ah, yes," Max sat back in the chair, "It's quite an old ordeal really. Goes back for years and years."

"Oh? Do tell," Larry leaned forward.

"It concerns Anzu and her…marriage arrangements really," he laid back.

"Oh?" Larry narrowed his eyes, "Now tell me, how much do you really know about Anzu? Where do these arrangements come from? Who-"

"Ha, ha!" Max laughed, "Don't worry so much, dear Larry. I assure you, I have known Anzu far longer and know her far better than you do. In fact, I am very close to her."

"Strange," Larry narrowed his eyes, "She has never mentioned you. She's told me of her friends and parents-"

"What!" Max suddenly sat up. Larry's eyes widened. Max calmed down, "Oh, I'm sorry. Of course she's told you of her parents. Silly me. I was thinking of someone else," he laughed. "In fact," a sly look came over the man's face, "We are right on track for these marital arrangements."

"How so?" Larry cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, for so long far back, it has almost… been "arranged" that Anzu marry a specific someone…well, the range has broadened a tad in the past years, but that isn't the point. The point is that Anzu has only a small choice on whom to marry."

"She can marry anyone she desires!" Larry stood up, his hands on his desk.

Max barely noticed, "Her father never said that."

Anzu fumed at herself as she drove along the roads. How could she have done that? Yes, she was still boiling over that kiss.

Anzu, just give it up. It's done: it's over with, and you shouldn't worry about it until you have to face him at some point tomorrow. Who knows, maybe both of us will forget al about it! A moment later, she added, Fat chance.

Wait a minute, she thought, tomorrow is Sunday! There's no work on Sunday- yes! Then again…this gets to haunt me for an extra day. Shoot…I wish there was something that could just drown out these stupid thoughts!

An upcoming sign caught her attention. A faint smiled crossed her face, "That could work." Tea pulled into the parking lot.

Noa had jumped into a spare car that the Kaibas owned that was stationed in the back of the Kaiba corp. building, and headed after Anzu. He saw her car up ahead. He frowned as it pulled into a questionable parking lot.

"Now why would Anzu be going into a bar?" Noa asked himself, while pulling into the parking lot himself and parking a bit away from Anzu, so that she wouldn't become suspicious.

Anzu pulled down the mirror and looked herself over. Much too dressy for a bar. She found some wipes under the seat and washed the make-up off her face. She then took off her work jacket (and fake glasses of course) and put her hair up in a ponytail. She had some spare pants in the car, just for those times when she didn't feel like going home right after work, but wanted to change out of the skirt.

So she quickly did that in the car as well. She also undid the top button of her blouse.

"There…now I feel somewhat normal." Anzu stepped out of the car and headed into the bar.

Behind her, Noa quietly followed.

Anzu walked into the bar, flashing her ID at the front man. She sat on a stool at the counter.

"What will you have, miss?"

Anzu massaged her temples, and groaned, "Errr…ahhh…get me a Bloody Mary."

The bartender raised his eyebrows in surprise, "As you say."

Behind her, Noa practically dropped to the ground. What on earth was Anzu ordering?

The tender came back a minute later and pushed the glass in front of Anzu. She took it up almost gratefully.

"Well…here's to hoping that things go better…" she held up the glass a smidge after the bartender had gone to someone else, "That I don't make a fool of myself anymore…and that I don't get mixed up into crazy love affairs-"

"Anzu? Are you really going to drink that?"

Anzu choked in mid-swallow, "N-Noa? W-What are you doing here?"

Noa sat down next to her, "Wondering what is upsetting you."

Anzu blinked and shoved the Bloody Mary behind her arm, "Umm…nothing. …Why would you say that?"

Noa narrowed his eyes, "Mokuba told me. He said you looked really stressed."

"And that's exactly what it is! Stress!" she took out the Mary again and held it in her hand.

"I don't think that's the problem," he took the glass from her and held it himself.

"Hey! Give that back!" she said playfully.

"I don't think you would be drinking this if you had stress on your mind," he eyed the insides carefully.

"Yes I would! I mean…one a year really isn't that bad for you, is it?"

"The way you're going, I'd say you are aiming at one a week," Noa commented, smiling.

Anzu rolled her eyes, "Come on; just give it here. It's really not as bad as it looks."

Noa took a minute to answer, "I'm aware of that." He smiled and took a sip. "I never said I have never had one."

"Why you hypocrite!" Anzu snatched her glass back from him, "Here you go and pretty much imply that this is bad for me, and you yourself have had a drink at some other point in time! And then you take mine!"

Noa shrugged, "Hey, it got me a free sip."

Anzu held back a laugh, "You really are something else."

"I take that as a compliment," Noa nodded, ordering the bartender over. "Wine please."

"Gotcha," he answered, turning away.

Anzu sighed, shook her head and looked over the dance floor. She was tapping her foot on the stool in time to the current song. She took a sip of the drink. As Noa received his wine, he turned around to face her.

"You miss it?"

Anzu looked at him strangely, "Miss what?"

Noa nodded his head over to the floor of people, "The dancing."

"Oh," Anzu looked back at the floor, "Yeah, I guess. This break really is appreciated, I guess. I miss Lar –my manager- but his son, I can do without for this year…and the next…and possibly just forever!" she huffed and took another drink.

She sighed once more as the song changed to Any Way You Want It.

Anzu jumped off the stool, "Oh! I love this song! Come on, Noa!" she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the floor.

Noa panicked, "Uh…Anzu? I never really took up dancing!"

"It's easy!" she smiled and brought him into the crowd. She stopped and started moving. The past words from the song rang through his head- Any way you want it- That's the way you need it…. Noa shrugged. If she wanted to do this, that was fine with him! He could improvise….

Eventually, the two had really found the dancing spirit. Anzu was moving away, like she hadn't in weeks, and Noa was just watching Anzu while trying to put up some type of move.

During one stanza, Anzu leaned in on him, singing right along.

Noa was a bit stunned by the reaction but decided to play along next chorus…. Anzu leaned in like before (Was this a dance move, or is she drunk, Noa thought). This time, the two switched off leaning every line of the chorus.

Anzu led Noa off the floor after the song. He was breathing a little more than usual. Anzu heaved a bit too. She hadn't done anything like that in months! She then drowned the Bloody Mary to refresh herself.

Noa winced when she did that. That wasn't a very good idea at all….

"Anzu?" he asked her.

"Yeah?" she bobbed her head.

Noa gave her a certain look, "…I'll drive you home."

The two were out in the parking lot now. Anzu squinted at her car, "What about my car? Can't keep it here…" she softly hiccupped. She thought dizzily for a moment. Suddenly, she thrust her finger up into the air, as with an idea, "I know! My parents live only a few blocks away! I can stay there for the night!" She turned to Noa, "If you'll take me…?"

"Best suggestion I've heard thus far," Noa remarked. She really shouldn't stay alone in this "condition" anyway. So, Noa took her, by her guidance, to her parent's home down a few streets.

He walked her up the front sidewalk to the door. Anzu turned around, "Thanks, Noa. I really did get over…whatever I was angry about." She paused for a moment and looked down, "What was I angry about?"

"I don't know," Noa shrugged, turning her around as the door opened.

"Hi, Mom!" Anzu said cheerily.

"Oh, hello Anzu, dear! What are you doing here?" her mother asked. She was holding a glass of water in one hand and some pills in it as well.

"Well…we think I wasn't in exactly the best condition to drive home…so, Noa brought me here! I'll pick up my car later."

"Who is 'we'?" her mother asked, not exactly having heard her daughter say Noa's name.

"Hello, Mrs. Mazaki," Noa nodded. "I'm…Noa Kaiba."

Mrs. Mazaki stared and the glass cup of water instantly dropped from her hand and smashed to the floor into pieces.

"Mom!" Anzu cried, looking down, "What did you do that for?"

"What! Oh, sorry!" Anzu's mother recovered, "I'll go fetch a dustpan or something-"

"No, Mom, I'll go get it," Anzu turned to Noa, "Thanks for bringing me back. And thanks for helping me "recover.""

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied, kissing her hand. Mrs. Mazaki practically fainted. Anzu blushed slightly (Maybe it's just the drink, she thought), and turned to go into the house. She waved and disappeared into the kitchen. Noa nodded to Mrs. Mazaki. "Pleasure to meet you ma'am. Goodbye. Say hello to Mr. Mazaki…and remind him that we do have that conference on Tuesday."

"Y-Yes, I'll tell him," she nodded. "Goodbye." As Noa left, she shut the door.

Anzu retrieved the dustpan from under the kitchen sink. She was just about to go back into the hall, when she heard her father conversing with somebody in the dining room next door. Anzu narrowed her eyes. He never talked too privately like that. He was always open with his conversations, except when they were surprises. She stood behind the doorway to the room and listened.

"Lar, how did you find this out? Even Anzu isn't supposed to know-"

"What am I not supposed to know?" Anzu said aloud. She covered her mouth instantly. Too late….

"Anzu?" her father came out from the room, covering the mouth-piece, "What are you doing here?" he seemed to panic slightly.

"What am I not supposed to know?" she demanded.

"You don't speak to me that way, young lady," he replied.

"Is that Lar? I want to speak with him!" Anzu retorted.

"You can soon. Just give me a minute!"

"No, Dad, NOW!"

"Yong lady!" her father yelled back. Anzu suddenly stopped and covered her mouth.

"Oh Daddy…I'm really sorry!" she stepped back, still surprised at how she had acted. Her father just watched her. "I'm sorry!" she ran up the stairs into her old room and threw herself into a crouched position on her bed.

Mrs. Mazaki came over to see what the fuss was. "Dear, what was all that about?"

"Hey, Lar? Can I call you back later? …Okay, thanks," Mr. Mazaki hung up the phone.

"Dear?"

"…Anzu…overheard me say that she wasn't supposed to know something. She got a bit edgy with me-"

"Probably just the drink…. Does she know!" her mother suddenly panicked.

"No, no!" he waved his hands in front of him, "But we're cutting it very close."

"Yes…very close," she looked back towards the door, "Very close indeed…."

"We have to tell her sometime," Anzu's father replied.

"Yes, I know…but when is the question. It might have a great impact upon her," her mother turned her worried face back towards her husband.

"Yes…and Lar just found out about it."

"He did? How?"

"…He says that Max is there with him. They were discussing her future…and to explain certain…prospects to Larry rightly, he had to tell him."

"Oh…what if he blabs it all to Anzu? We can't have that!"

"I'm sure Max will caution him…very much against it. We've had these close ends before…but we've always come around them. We'll do it again."

"But this time…it's much to close for me to handle! I don't think I can take much more! You should have seen how chummy she just was with Noa Kaiba!"

"…Only natural," the father murmured. The mother bit her lip.

"Goodbye," Lar said over the phone. He hung up and turned back to Max, who wasn't looking very happy.

"Anzu was there! And you practically gave it all out her!"

"I didn't know. She just came in!"

"Do you know the significant importance of this secret!" Max suddenly stood up.

"I-I get it!" Lar put his hands out in front of him. "N-Not a word to Anzu!"

"NOT A WORD."

"G-Got it."

"It took me a lot of work to keep this from her. You had better not screw it up!" Max retorted. He started to calm down a bit. He stuck out a hand, "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Marnar." Larry Sr. dazedly (at the sudden swing of Max's emotions), shook his hands to end the meeting.

Anzu sat on her bed, with her door to the room closed. "I can't believe…I just started ordering Dad around…. Oh gosh…I really am becoming like the kind of person I hate…. …The old kind of Kaiba…. I seriously need help…." She sighed and her head popped up, "And I know just where to go for it. …To the man himself."

Hey! I know this chapter wasn't the best, but it did have quite a bit of significance. They should get better later. And if you didn't pick it up at the end, when she said, "To the man himself," well, that means more SetoxAnzu action for all you fans! PLEASE REVIEW!