Authors Note: First off, let me just make personal note to thank all my reviewers: Zabbat Pilot, WOW, Mashi, Nightfall2525, panmotto, Cerulean San, Darkjoey, Gekkou Hana, your fan, Simple Songwriter, DangerousandDemonicDevil. Also, I'd like to send some gratitude and recommendation towards the lovely mischiefmagnet for her incredible stories and encouragement on my own. Without all your help I probably would no longer be writing fanfiction so thanks a lot guys, it's been a real pleasure. Already wrote out the next chapter as a bonus treat and will be posted ASAP this upcoming Wednesday. I'm no longer suffering from writers block so I'm planning to crack down and kick my butt into gear again. Enjoy.
----
Chapter Three
----
Regardless of Anzu's several attempts to continue reading, it appeared that the annoyance commonly known as Seto Kaiba was still standing in front of her.
"Can I help you?" she said, closing her book impatiently; soon taking a standing position to combat his glare. "Oh, I highly doubt you could help me with anything." The both of them refused to blink; even smile for that matter. But despite the man's towering a good extra three inches above her, Anzu still held her ground.
The girl rolled her eyes. "Is that so Mr. overconfident, I-don't need anyone." She laughed. It was such an affectionately warm and compelling laughter that Seto almost wanted to say whatever he had before so she could do it again. "Like I'd ever want to in the first place."
"Forget about saving Mokuba's life?" He rudely commented.
"Well excuse me for being a relatively nice and caring person. Tell me something I don't know" she humphed, crossing both hands against her chest and frowning.
"Okay. You don't look half bad in that uniform."
Anzu's mouth dropped. Was that a complement she just heard utter out from icy cold Kaiba? And directed to her no less?
Thankfully her chance to reply was cut short, seeing as at that exact second Jouanchi made himself known by bursting threw the library doors. His entrance was so loudly noticeable in-fact, that everyone was forced to turn there heads in acknowledgement. This of course including Seto; and a not too happy looking Seto at that.
"Hey'a Anzu, ready for yer dance lesso…" He stopped between mid sentence after in taking the rather nerve-racking close-ness his best friend and arch rival were sharing.
And of course wanting to reenact the whole hero saves the pretty damsel in distress, Jou approached Kaiba with two clenched fists. "Is dis' creep bothering ya Anzu?"
The CEO had to hold back a laugh. "I could say just the same to her about you, mutt."
Anzu was now sandwiched between the two as she tried to defuse the argument. But in realizing her protest's lost cause, she concluded to try a different approach.
"Hey- your early aren't you Jou? What do you say to us going to grab a little something; my treat." With the unmistakable mentioning of food, Jou couldn't help but return to that regular goofy and overly-enthused self of his. Then with a simply stated, "Lead the way babe!" had already headed out the door.
Kaiba growled with a hint of jealousy at the given nickname from the blonde to Anzu.
"I'll see you at 4, Seto." She said sincerely, not forgetting there agreement.
He nodded and then quickly left in the opposite direction, wanting to get as far from Jou as possible.
As for the two friends, Anzu couldn't remember being so happy with Jou before. The messy blonde hair, the piercing blue eyes and that lingering smell of cigarettes. Attributes of his which always brought out a smile from her; even if she did frown upon his underage smoking habits.
The girl sank down into the feeling as they walked together. It was comfortable, natural to be around him this way. Anzu felt like she could be herself, and not have to put on a strong or a reliable face in front of him. That was what she enjoyed most, the fact that she could just be her, and that was okay.
She unexpectedly blushed crimson as Jou reached for the door, holding it open for her to pass through. Seating themselves to a table, Anzu filled the gap near the window while Jou comfortably took to her side followed with wrapping an arm protectively around her shoulders.
"Well?" he grinned
Curiosity eating at her, she simply sat back, crossed her legs, fiddling with the hem of her jeans. "Well, what?" She repeated, stirring the tension already circling in the tight space of elbow-room.
"Well what's on your mind, kiddo? And don't even think about giving me that 'Nothing' bullshit"
"All right, all right, you win. But I honestly don't have much of an answer- I just think I've been lingering on old feelings more than I should." She leaned back into the comfort of the chair, then snuggled up to the embrace Jouanchi's green jacket was offering.
The boy smiled as he started playing with a piece of her shoulder length apricot hair.
"Ah' think I know what ya mean. Reminds me of when you first meet someone n' how perfect everythin can seem. It's the funniest, you know? But then time comes in between it all. Shit get misconstrued. People turn out ta not be at all as they firs' seemed. And fuck, what a disappointment it becomes, a headache. And you just wish you didn't know them so well again."
"Jouanchi..."
"Myabe I'm not suposed ta end up with anyone. That was Mai's opinion of course- says I'm too much of a kid.
Anzu pushed his shoulder jokingly, "Oh get off it," she laughed. "I wouldn't have you another way."
The older boy just smiled, pulling Anzu into a swift bear-hug; all the while desperately trying not to think about ravaging her delicate body despite his willingness to do so.
"You have no idea how much dat means to me babe."
"We both have a lot of time ahead of us Jou. Plenty of things to, and not to, look forward to. Won't stop me from trying though. And it shouldn't stop you either."
"Anzu... I need to tell you somthin'" Fumbling over his words, the blonde gently leaned in to kiss her when suddenly a high pitched beeping, courtesy Anzu's watch, blew them completely out of thought.
"I gotta run," she cursed while rummaging for some cash through a pocket.
Laying a 20$ down on the table she smiled brightly up at Jou
"Hey, cmma'n- I don't deserve this..."
"Call it an early Birthday present."
With no more than a quick kiss on the cheek, she was gone; leaving a very aroused Jou and a rather large bulge in his pants too.
----
TBC