A/N: Well, here's what would have been the other half of yesterday's chapter- Otherworld! Which explains the crummy opening paragraph. If I had not been forced to split the chapter in two, it wouldn't have been necessary, but what you gonna do?

Review Response:

Willowwind: Oh, I'm getting sick of being YELLED at! You've read IMM! So use that brain I know you have and THINK! (Calms down) Ahhh! I updated! Don't poke me!

Disclaimer: Oh, look, a flying piggie.

And now, part two- everyone, met Blusie!

Ten: Otherworld

September

G&T sure was awkward today, as all three of her sisters were there, with Ryou and two of the other band members- The singer, and the Base player. Only the drummer was unaffected. It seemed that the Band had been in a rut ever since their guitarist had left the previous year, and, although replaced with the more-then-apt Ryou, they still hadn't got back into the swing of things. They seemed to think that they would never be ready for the Christmas show.

Still, Azreal thought as she painstakingly tried to thread the needle. Better them then some other random Muses that hate me. Giving up, Azreal removed her glasses. For this job, they just got in the way- because of the angle she was at, she was always half looking through the lens and half not. She'd be better off with her own, blurred vision. She sucked the tip of the cotton, where it was fraying into individual fibres, and finally got it through. Smiling triumphantly, she put her glasses back on, and continued her stitching.

"You look like a pro at that." Ryou commented, appearing from the shadows behind her. She didn't even jump anymore, she was so used to his sudden appearances.

"Not really…" She replied, not looking up. "I just spent most of my childhood repairing clothes and toys I managed to rip."

"What is it you're making?" Ryou asked.

"Seto's birthday present…" She replied, in a tone that suggested she'd say no more. She finished the row she was stitching and looked up, and was surprised to see not only Ryou and Opal, but also Greg, the singer, with Ruby, Craig, who played both Base, electric, and acoustic guitars but preferred the Base- Emerald hanging round behind him, and Matt, the drummer.

"Um, I'm feeling slightly intimidated here…" Azreal commented, looking up at them all. "What's the matter?"

"Well…" Greg began. "We have a problem."

"And this problem is…?"

"The Christmas Show, as always." He sighed. "Here's the thing- we can do up to five songs, but we only have two that are good enough."

"Let me guess: Amnesia and Paint, right?" Azreal laughed. It was fairly obvious, being as they were the most popular.

"You got it." Greg smiled. "So, anyway, we need three more songs, and since you're always humming to yourself, we figured you were the one to ask…The other bands are looking really good this year, so we really need to be able to compete, and relate to the audience. Plus we need some that we can get good at in a few weeks."

"I-" Anna began, cut off by the bell. "I'll find some by next week, then. Leave it with me, guys."

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The following week…

Azreal had no sooner taken her normal seat at one of the rooms large tables then the band members walked over to her, scraping chairs back, and sitting down, looking at her expectantly.

"Okay," She laughed. "Give me chance…" Digging around in her shoulder bag, she pulled out several pieces of paper, detailing Lyrics, music, and tabs. "Here's the deal…" She said, spreading them out before her. "You should open with this one- Otherworld."

Ryou blinked. "The one on Final Fantasy 10?"

Azreal grinned. "So, you are a gamer. But yes, it is. And the reason you should open with it is very simple- it has a good sound, and a good beat. By the time you're on, people will be half asleep. This'll wake them up, and get them going."

"How would Greg sing it though?" Ryou asked. "I mean, he doesn't have the freaky voice thing going on…"

"Ever heard The Black Mages version?" Azreal asked, not waiting for an answer. "You just sing it normally and it still works."

Ryou nodded.

"Then, I think you should do Amnesia." Azreal continued. "People like songs they know, so they can join in, but it's also relatively new, or so Ryou says. No-one's bored of it just yet."

"I get it…" Greg said. It was odd, it had never really occurred to him how tactical these things could be before…

"Uh-huh. Next up, this one." Azreal said, pointing dramatically at the second song on the table, entitled She's The One. "This is a nice, slow one- but not monotone. This'll get them all swaying. But just one thing…" She looked up uncertainly. "I think you should sing this one, Ryou, provided you can still play the guitar."

"But…" He stammered. "Why? I mean, I can't sing…"

"As long as you can carry a tune- which you can, because I've heard- it'll be fine."

"No offence to anyone," Craig put in "But Greg sings better then any of us. Why can't he do it?"

Azreal groaned mentally. What had she gotten herself into…? And how did she explain without embarrassing any of them too much…?

"The fact of the matter is…" She began hesitantly. "This is a romantic song. This is the kind of song that makes every person in the audience feel special. And, well… I guess you guys wouldn't know, because it's mainly in the toilets and changing rooms… but Ryou's a popular guy. And I don't mean as in he's got a larger then normal amount of friends. If Ryou gets up and sings this song, it's going to make a lot of dreams and melt a lot of hearts."

Ryou was not the only one going red. Azreal looked at the table, positively burning. At least his embarrassment was less noticeable- he was so pale to begin with…

"Right, that's fine." Greg nodded, even though Ryou hadn't yet agreed to anything. "What's next?"

Ryou groaned mentally. He saw Azreal looked as embarrassed because of having to announce all that as he did to hear it. But now he'd have to… Why, why, why…?

"Moving swiftly on," Azreal said instantly. "After that, do this one- Love Supreme. It's a just a bit of fun, so there's the 'relating to' part done. Then finish with Paint, which, from what I hear, is everyone's old favourite, and if you didn't play it, you'd get slaughtered."

With that, she pulled Seto's half-finished present out, and continued to work on it, and the band members thanked her and moved across the room to try the new stuff.

"That's looking good." Ryou commented emotionlessly, glancing at the mass of fabric and thread that was starting to take shape. "Are you using a pattern or something?"

"Uh, no." Azreal shook her head. "Just kinda making it up, guessing… You're going to get me for that, aren't you?"

"Just as soon as I can think of something nasty enough." Ryou responded good-naturedly. "It's a well known fact that I hate to sing in front of other people."

"As long as you're reasonably in tune, the song will carry itself." Azreal promised. "But I'm going to be paranoid for a long time now…"

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And Another Week…

"Done." Azreal announced, suddenly.

Ryou looked up sharply from where he was studying the tabs for Love Supreme, and saw the project in all it's finished glory, right down to the ribbon. It was surprisingly good.

"Hey, you should sell those." He said, only half-joking. "That's really good."

"I don't think I could do any other varieties, though." Azreal replied, sucking on her many-times pricked finger. "Maybe I'll give it a go, though… I just hope Seto likes it."

"I'm sure he will." Ryou replied comfortingly. After all, he added mentally. Those two are as bad as each other. I'd bet he'd love anything just because she was the one who gave it to him.

"I've been meaning to ask you…" Azreal said. "How's it going with your old friends? It's been a few weeks, now, after all."

"It's great." Ryou said, smiling. "Genuinely great." The Bell rang.

"Well, that's good to hear." Azreal sighed in relief. "We were worried, you know, that you wouldn't want to get in touch with them. I bet Phoenix is pleased to."

She stood up to go, as Ryou chocked. How did she…? Ever since when he had accidentally let out that he was dating someone, he had regretted it, but had flatly refused to tell them who it was, just for privacy's sake. They weren't as obvious as Seto and Azreal had been when they were trying to hide it- they had actually managed thus far, but now Azreal knew, just like she knew everything else and just like she was-

Tripping over a chair.

Ryou helped her up, and, after she had got control of her giggles and righted the chair, they went to join Téa and Yugi for PSHE without another word on the subject.

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October

September, as it so often tends to do, rolled on into October, bringing with it even more cold weather and the first hints of the winter to come in just a few more weeks. And, as October began to pass, the hints changed to all-out likeness. There was no doubt about it, Domino City, and, if fact, all of Honshu seemed like it was getting set for a bitterly cold few months. But, none the less, time marched on, until it was almost the end of the month. The 25th, to be precise.

Seto had sat alone, as usual, at his usual table, and had kept an eye out the whole time, but Az had not appeared yet. Perhaps she and her friends were eating outside again.

She and her friends. Sometimes, Seto toyed with the thought that it might almost be worth making friends with the nerd herd just to see her a little more. But then he remembered Wheeler, and the idea was squashed.

At last, she turned up, alone, walking into the canteen and hurrying over to where he always sat. She had already eaten, and rather hurriedly to, it seemed, judging by the tiny crumbs clinging to the corners of her mouth.

"Hi…" She said, sitting down and wiping them off. "And happy birthday!"

"Thanks." Seto smiled, as she sat down.

"I can't stop long, I'm afraid." Azreal sighed, bending down to rifle through her ever-present bag. "I have an appointment with Flitwick…"

"You're still going to see him?" Seto asked in surprise.

"Uh-huh…" Azreal responded, sheepishly. "Well, after the petition thingee, he made me go back, again, and I was getting peeved at him, so when he showed me the ink blots I told him each one looked like a corpse mutilated in various horrible ways. Probably not a wise move." She giggled. "He thinks I'm seriously gone in the head. And when he found out about us…" She was still digging in her bag. It was so annoying. Half the time she couldn't fit anything in, and the other half she couldn't find anything in it… "Hey, here's the leaflets he gave me!" She cried, surfacing with aforementioned leaflets. "He seemed to think you were taking advantage of me. I mean, look at this!" She flipped the top one open. "What most people don't realise is that relationships are all about compromise. If you don't feel you're getting what you need, then talk to your partner about it. You shouldn't feel pressured into anything you don't want to do. All the rest of the advice in this leaflet can only be followed after this is done." She looked up. "Seto," She said in mock seriousness. "I don't feel that I'm getting as much out of this relationship as I put in, and I feel like you're pressuring me into going out with you tonight. I think we need to talk about compromise." She snorted. "Whatever!" She tossed the leaflets into a nearby bin and resumed searching her bag.

"Hey, if you don't want to come…" Seto began in mock indigence.

"Are you kidding! I wouldn't miss it for the world! Although, I still don't understand why it's your birthday, yet you're buying for me. Seems kinda unfair…"

"Mokuba and I always go." Seto dismissed. "And neither of us saw any reason why you shouldn't join us this year. Besides, judging by that gift bag you've finally located, you've already got me a present anyway, so you needn't feel guilty about it."

Azreal laughed, pushing the metallic blue gift bag towards him. "Here. I really hope you like it… And I really have to go! See you later!" She stood up, her fingers brushing over his in the process. Seto grabbed them.

"Your fingers are cold." He frowned.

"I've noticed." Azreal replied, wryly. "It's cold outside, Seto, and I haven't been inside long enough to warm up yet. Nor have I been on Earth long enough to get around to buying a set of gloves. Wherever had a controlled climate, so…" She shrugged. "I'll see you later- I can't wait!"

She squeezed his warm fingers in her icy ones, before slipping out of his grip and leaving.

Seto stared at the innocent-looking gift bag as though that would tell him what it was. He was slightly concerned about sticking his hand in there, in case it reared up and bit him. Eventually, though, he had to, before the suspense killed him. Tentatively, he pushed a hand inside. At least the bag hadn't moved yet… His concern increased when he felt fur under his fingers, and, closing his eyes, he pulled it out.

Seto gave an audible sigh of relief when he saw it wasn't alive after all, just a plush toy. A plush toy that, predictably, was shaped like his favourite Blue-Eyes- but nowhere near as impressive. This wasn't designed to look cool and make hearts weep with fear, but to look cute and make tough men cry. It had a red ribbon tied around it's neck, the bow at the back, settling over the joint where the wings joined the main body. At the front was a small, tied-on, tag.

Dear Seto, Az's definitive scrawl read. This is Blusie. You better look after him, or he shall set fire to your advert-shiney hair. Love, Az. xxx

Seto stared down indcredously at his new teddy. Az must have hand made it… Chuckling, Seto slipped 'Blusie' into his briefcase, before anyone saw him with it. He'd have to find a better home for him later.

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"You have one twisted sense of humour."

"Are you complaining?"

"No. Really, he's great. You're great."

"Aww." Azreal smiled, as they made their way out of school. "You can be so sweet sometimes. It can't be good for y-"

"Hey!" Someone yelled, running up behind them. "You Anna Mitsan?" He demanded.

"Yeah." Azreal responded, wondering what kind of dumb question that was. It wasn't like there was anyone in the school who didn't know who she was- the sheep-loving weirdo dating Kaiba.

"Urgent call for you in the office." He said, and, message delivered, went to leave school himself.

"Urgent?" Azreal blinked. "Who from?"

He shrugged, and then, disappeared through the gates.

Azreal sighed. "Do you mind waiting?" She asked apologetically. The plan was that she would get a ride home, and get sorted, and he'd go back with Mokuba to do the same, and then he'd come back round for her later to go to the restaurant.

"I'll come with you." Seto said stonily.

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Azreal was only on the phone for about a minute, but when she put it down, she was as white as a sheet.

"James collapsed." She said in a small voice. "He's been taken to hospital."

"…Come on." Seto said, taking her by the arm. "We'll take you in the car."

"I'm sorry." Azreal offered lamely. "This was supposed to be your birthday, and now I'm going to ruin it…"

"Don't say that." Seto told her. "You don't even know what's wrong with him yet. And with a kid that young, more then likely it's nothing. I know, I've pretty much brought one up."

Azreal smiled briefly, but it didn't hang around long. They climbed into the car, and once Seto had told Redge where they wanted to go, the drive was silent.

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A/N: Dun dun dunnnnnnnnn! Join me next time! Or I shall send Blusie to eat your plot bunnies!