Disclaimer: Pst…. Psssst! Wanna know a secret? . … . Dustbunny… doesn't own YGO! or Sailor Moon
A/N: Woohoo! We're back! As always, I ask that you keep your eyes peeled for errors. If you find any, slap me with them. Hard. Oh, and before you get worried by some of the quasi-fluff that managed to sneak in, there isn't going to be any official RyouAnzu. There isn't going to be any official pairing at all, actually. I just thought the romance would make it more Sailor Moon-like
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Anzu woke the next morning anxiously and checked her cell messages. She relaxed when she saw that Shizuka had left a message confirming that she'd made it home safely. Stretching out, Anzu made her way downstairs. Absentmindedly, she found herself searching the morning paper for any stories that might tell of an exclusive crime ring that needed taken care of. To her subconscious dismay, the only thing that came close was a story describing several sightings of a female prowler the night before. Sighing a bit with the disappointment of it all, she gobbled down a couple of Pop Tarts and went back to her room to get dressed.
Anzu quickly pulled on a pair of blue shorts, a pale pink sleeveless shirt, matching socks, and a pair of sneakers. She had something important to do today. Confirming that it was now about time that people would be up and about, she grabbed her purse and left for downtown.
A few hours later found Anzu leaning up against a building, sighing in frustration. Checking her watch, Anzu discovered that she'd been wandering around for just under three hours. What was she doing? Looking for Ryou, of course. She knew that the two of them needed to speak, but that would be the smallest bit difficult if the case of his absence at present wasn't dealt with. Anzu sighed and cursed herself for what had to be the one-billionth time since waking that she couldn't recall his address. This also brought up the question of how he'd known hers, having never been to her house, but she'd get that straitened out later.
Just as it seemed all hope of locating him before having to meet up with Shizuka was lost, Anzu spotted a familiar mess of white hair going in the direction opposite her. Oh, no, you don't, she thought in a determined way. If you think that I spent almost three hours looking for you so you could walk away from me, you're crazy.
This thought in her head, the brunette no less than charged in the direction of her target. He was quite a ways ahead of her by now, but she didn't let the fact faze her. She was in perfect shape for a chase. She wouldn't let him just- wait! Where was he? Ah ha! He was turning to head through the park- to throw her off, perhaps? No, he didn't know she was following him, or, if he did, he didn't know what was good for him.
Because of the crowd and the already lost distance, Anzu reached the park entrance a good (or bad, depending how you look at it) few minutes after the unknowingly pursued boy. Looking around like a cat stalking a mouse, she was able to spot him once more by his unique 'do. The chase continued.
She was close enough now that, had she been thinking properly, she would have called out to him. But instead she kept steady pace and was gaining more each second. It was then that her prey stopped at a corner and seemed to be preparing to cross. The street light on the corner where he stood was known for its almost non-existent walk light. There was no way she'd catch him if he was allowed to cross. Luckily for her, the 'don't walk' phase had just kicked in a moment ago.
Realizing that she was a mere few yards from him, she gave an extra burst of speed. It wasn't until about a quarter of a second before the impact that it actually occurred to her what she was doing. Poor Ryou hadn't even noticed her and so any evasion on his part was impossible as well. The light had just given the signal to walk, which was what he was preparing to do, when the slightly out-of-it dancer slammed into his side in a full-on tackle that sent both of them crashing to the ground.
The two teens lay in stunned silence for a second or so, no one bothering to help them. Eventually, they pulled themselves up and brushed themselves off, not looking at one another. Anzu grinned sheepishly.
"Heh, sorry about that. I, uh, was trying to catch you before you got across," she explained with a tone to match her smile.
"Well, you certainly did do what you set out to," he allowed with a small wince. He, like Anzu, was carefully avoiding the subject that they both knew needed discussing the most. The difference was that she was embarrassed, while he was afraid of what she had to say. Somehow she didn't carry the look of a girl that was about to confess her undying love and compassion for him.
The two stood there, not quite knowing what to say though they both knew what had to be. The seconds seemed like hours and the tension grew thicker for every second within those hours. Finally, the deafening silence was broken.
"About what you said-"
"About what I said-"
They both stopped to let the other continue which neither did. Instead they stood there, grinning like a couple of fools at the folly and blushing. Perfect setting for Malik to stumble onto, ne?
Said Egyptian just happened about the same corner on which the blushing teens stood. Squinting for a better look, he was able to confirm that both were indeed blushing, Ryou's flush extremely obvious. His eyes almost doubled in size as he added two plus two to get five. Anzu must have turned him down because she was secretly running around with Ryou! No! Not only that, but, judging by their mutual discomfort, it just might be possible… Yes! Anzu must be pregnant with Ryou's child and they were planning to run off to Canada!
Malik took a moment to rethink the last part and consequently decided to find a way to kick his soap opera-watching habit. But there was still definitely something going on between the two. Malik huffed indignantly. Getting turned down was bad enough, but for another guy? He couldn't help feel jealous as he watched them smile and laugh awkwardly with one another. Slowly, the jealousy took over his rationality and he advanced on the couple quickly, not caring that only certain people were supposed to know he was in Domino.
Said couple didn't even become aware of the blonde until he suddenly appeared beside them.
"Hello there, Anzu. Bakura," he said the boy's name just a LITTLE tightly, wearing a smile that didn't even hint authenticity. "So, what might the two (he said it as if it tasted like cough syrup) of you be doing here on such a beautiful example of a day?" he questioned with fake cheer. "Together... alone."
"Oh, we just ran into each other," Anzu explained.
"Well, if you want to be technical about it," Ryou chimed in, "She ran into me."
"Is that right?" Malik answered, his phoniness slipping away. So they weren't secretly running around after all. Good to have that out of the way. Feeling as if something needed to be cleared up as far as the young lady beside him was concerned, he slipped an arm chummily around her shoulders.
Anzu blushed and looked surprised and Ryou seemed to deflate. If nothing else he looked as if his rich, child-spoiling grandmother had just lost her entire fortune and then died to boot. Malik didn't pay attention to him, though, as he spoke to his new armrest in a smooth voice.
"So, Anzu," he began casually as if it was perfectly normal to be leaning into her as he was doing now, "have you reconsidered my offer for a date?" It was a very rare phenomenon that a girl would turn someone as good-looking and charming (if not altogether modest) as him down, and so there was no way she'd say no twice.
"As a matter of fact, Malik," Anzu told him sweetly, "I haven't."
So much for that theory. As her statement was concluded, she removed his arm smoothly from across her shoulders and all but handed it back to him. She took a small step away to discourage any further actions of the sort and tried not to blush when she realized that Ryou had regained three times his composure. She also had to resist the urge to laugh (and feel guilty about it afterwards, of course) at the look on Malik's face.
There was silence for several moments until a fourth party ran up to them. It was Shizuka. Not seeming to notice anything unusual about the three older youths that she now shared a corner with, she chirped out cheery hellos and caught Anzu's eye. The younger girl was obviously very excited and the fact put Anzu into the same state of mind, forcing her to remember what the girl must be so cheery about, and to forget about the problem she'd set out to solve.
"So, Anzu, I was gonna hit the arcade. Wanna come?" the girl asked with a gleam that threatened to overtake both her eyes.
They had agreed the day before on their story. They had several hours yet until they were to meet the older women, and nothing could be made to seem out of the ordinary. For this reason, the two would hang out as they often did and then be carted off by the older blonde with a pre-planned excuse. Isis and Miho would meet them by their own means.
However, it now dawned on Anzu, complications had arisen since yesterday. She knew that she and Ryou desperately needed to sort things out, but she doubted the sense of talking about such things with an audience - particularly one that Malik was present in. Furthermore, leaving the two boys alone didn't seem too bright either. Maybe she was just being paranoid, but something told her that Malik suspected something. The solution was actually really simple, she realized, but the opportunity to go over certain things with Shizuka would be sacrificed in the process.
"Sounds fun, Shizuka," Anzu replied with a smile. "You guys wanna come too?" she addressed Ryou and Malik. Shizuka looked uncertain but said nothing. She didn't think much of it after a second or two, actually - it would be normal for at least one of the girls to extend the invitation. But, of course, she didn't know the whole truth behind the gesture.
"Sure," Ryou answered her, trying to seem like it was no big deal. He was sure that Anzu had been looking pointedly at him when she'd asked... Well, maybe not, but it was still an opportunity to spend time with her. With Ryou going along, Malik quickly accepted the offer as well.
With the two young men in tow, Anzu and Shizuka headed towards the Big Web Arcade, sharing a significant smile.
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"Get him, Anzu, get him! Go, go, go! Punch, no, kick! Oh! Hit him, hit him, hit him!" Shizuka urged on as Anzu continued to give Malik a royal beating in their game of Tekken. Ryou stood to the side and attempted to cheer Anzu without looking as if he knew Shizuka.
The four had been at the arcade for a few hours and it hadn't been uneventful. Several older boys had come on to the girls and, when they had refused to get a clue, Ryou and Malik had attempted to get rid of them in an attempt to show off. If they had been cooperating, they may have been more effective. As it happened, Anzu and Shizuka had convinced the pair to just ignore the annoying- and, by that time, laughing- boys and move on. Not taking well to being ignored, one of the unknown young men had grabbed Anzu forcefully by her arm.
Well, Anzu certainly wasn't going to stand for that. Before either Ryou or Malik could step in, she had whirled around and given the thug a good whack in the head with her blue leather purse. The guy had stumbled back but looked less than happy, and ready to come for more. Well, let's say he got the plus package. Using the same anger-fueled force that had gotten her fired from Burger World, she delivered a solid jab to his jaw. It was enough to knock him flat on his back and get rid of the other would-be assailants.
"Er, yeah!" Malik had called after them, still a bit shocked at what Anzu had done.
"Now you know better!" Ryou half-heartedly added.
Since then, things had gone well and the small group had occupied themselves with the various games that surrounded them. Ryou and Malik were never far from Anzu's side. Shizuka, too busy dreaming of following the steps of Sailor Moon to be perceptive, was beginning to wonder if Ryou thought that Malik was being too forward and that was why he was sticking so close. Yes, following after Sailor Moon she was.
After being creamed by Anzu at Tekken for the sixth time in a row, Malik suggested that they play a different game. Agreeing, if only for his sake, Anzu scanned the crowed room for something else to do. The DDR was already in use and there seemed to be a long line. Knowing that she was most likely the only person who wanted to play and that the boys weren't about to space themselves from her, she overlooked it. Besides, she didn't want to be too caught up should Mai show up for them while she was still competing. The game was hard to get away from if you were good. Spectators sometimes just refused to let people go. It turned out not to be a game but familiar faces that Anzu found herself headed towards.
"Yugi!" she called happily. "Jounouchi!" She smiled and waved as she made her way to them. They returned both gestures and moved to meet her halfway. Their smiles seemed to grow when they saw Ryou right behind her- then falter when they saw that Shizuka and Malik were also there. Four, after all, was nothing but an understated crowd. (Apparently Jounouchi had already gotten wind of Malik, or just didn't care.)
"Hey, Anzu!" Jounouchi replied to her. "Hey, Bakura. Sis… Malik."
"Anzu," Shizuka interrupted, looking at her watch, "Mai's going to be meeting us to go to her house soon." To confirm the statement, she held up her wrist so that the older girl could see as well.
"You're both going to Mai's?" Jounouchi questioned. He knew that Shizuka was going to be spending the evening with her, but he didn't think Anzu liked to be around her too often.
"Yeah," Shizuka told him, digging up the story they'd agreed on from her mind. "She wants us all to have a sleep-over. Something about… 're-education.'"
Anzu nodded in compliance. "She said something about you guys polluting our delicate feminine minds with your disgustingly boorish man-like ways," she said whilst rolling her eyes.
"Oh," Yugi answered simply, trying not to feel too offended. "I see."
Just then a car horn sounded, causing the group to look out toward the street. Mai sat in her convertible, motor still running. She waved a perfectly manicured hand at the girls and honked again.
"See you guys later," they said in unison before running to greet Mai. The boys called their good-byes and waved as Mai drove off.
Jounouchi and Yugi then turned to Ryou with the intension of asking about his time with Anzu. Sure, they had been accompanied by Shizuka and Malik, but maybe they'd been alone at some time? It was when they were about to bring the subject into conversation, however, that they first noticed the tension between the two boys before them. The look that flashed in Ryou's eyes when he turned to them was enough to confirm their suspicion: the albino had competition.
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Mai drove toward Anzu's house so that she could pick up her extra clothes and whatnot. Afterward they would stop at Shizuka's. The teens couldn't help notice that Mai seemed to be brooding about something, occasionally shooting a menacing glare in their general direction. Anzu couldn't help but notice that Shizuka seemed to know why- and seemed doggone pleased. Pushing the thoughts aside, Anzu slipped into a daydream of what could quite possibly be her future.
"Help me," cried many voices. Looks of horror were resting upon just about every face in the bank lobby. Two men in the center of the room held guns high where they could be seen.
"Everybody here had better shut up now!" one of them boomed.
The shouts stopped abruptly but frightened murmurs still rippled throughout the room. The taller of the two men began going around the room and having everyone empty the contents of their pockets. Anything of value was compensated.
The shorter man remained in the center of the room where he could easily see any activity. His gun was poised and ready to be shot off at the first sign of offence. The other man was just making his way over to the tellers.
"Hold it!" a female voice commanded him just before he made it half way.
All attention was suddenly turned to the right of the man. There stood Anzu (but of course no one knew that) with her hair done up Sailor Moon style...
Snapping slightly out of her daydream, Anzu frowned. She may have worn that humiliating Burger World uniform, but she did have some standards. There was no way she was wearing her hair like that. Thus decided, Anzu rewound the scene in her head before continuing...
All attention was suddenly turned to the right of the man. There stood Anzu (but of course no one knew that) with her hair down like Sailor Saturn. Shizuka, Mai and Isis were stenciled into the background somewhere. Not even slightly fazed, the man turned to her with a vicious snarl.
"Who do you think you are, girly?" he growled at her impatiently. Apparently he was not impressed by her or her companions. But this didn't make her hesitate for even a moment.
"I am-"
Again, Anzu snapped back to reality. This time, her frown was far deeper. Isis seemed to have some way to allow them to go on with their plan and Mokuba had supplied them with weaponry, but there was still another question unanswered: Who the heck were they supposed to be?
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Dustbunny: And thus we've come full circleBunnydust: Yippee-do-da-day
Marshmallow: Bundle of joyous sunshine, isn't she? You know what else is a bundle of joyous sunshine? Well thought out reviews!