"Well that was certainly some performance." Breathed Mai quietly.

Jou and Honda were either side of Yugi, shaking him.

"Did you see that," gawped Jou. "Who's that Ba…"

He stopped, trying to work out why Honda was jerking his head like a madman.

"What?" he asked, still not understanding

"Mai," muttered Honda through a shut mouth, flicking his eyes at the seat beside Jou.

"What about Mai she's right… ooh, heh, hey Mai, Anzu was great wasn' she?"

If he'd thought that Anzu was scary yesterday, then that was nothing to the gates of hell facing him now, as he turned to look at his girlfriend. She had shifted in her seat to cross her arms and legs. Her right index finger tapping the top of her left arm, all the while fixing him with a dark look.

"Ab-so-lutely Stellar." She said with an unfriendly smile.

Jou tugging on Yugi's arm, gave Mai a hesitant smile, looking back to Honda, he mouthed. "Help!"

"Woah," Yelled Honda, "Is that the time, must be ready for another performance, hey."

He leaned forward slightly to look across at Mai. "Oh man, you are in one serious amount of dog do."

Yugi, however, seemed oblivious to the sudden temperature drop in his row he was too busy taking in the sight below. He was trying to find it within him to be caustic, but even he had to admit she had the assets, and carried them well.

"I wonder if Anzu has seen them. How could she not, they were right in front of her. And what about Mokuba?"

"I hope you're alright Mokuba."

"Why wouldn' 'e be Yug?" Jou latched onto this distraction like a drowning man to a buoy. Mai was giving off vibes and they weren't your touch me type. They were more a touch me and see kind.

Yugi woke from his reverie. He hadn't realised he'd spoken aloud. Lifting a hand slowly he pointed down towards Seto.

"Oh you mean the babe with iceman, I bet she could thaw anyone."

Honda closed his eyes, head dropping back with a slight from shake side to side. "ya'll never learn to quit when your behind will ya Katsuya?"

"Why'd that worry the shrimp?"

"Because of Anzu."

"What about 'er?"

"He wants Anzu…" Then he remembered Jou hadn't been there for the explosive moment, as far as his friend was concerned the kid had a crush on Anzu. So of course there wouldn't anything for Mokuba to worry about. "Do I tell him." He thought, staring at Jou the whole time.

Even Mai seemed to be mildly interested by this exchange, watching Yugi through a sidelong glance.

"C'mon Yug, ya startin' ta freak me out here." Protested Jou.

"Shh", came several voices around.

Mai looked down at the backs of the two brothers. The noise from their row seemed to have caught the attention of those below with the Devine redhead turning her hazel gaze upwards. The two women began a staring contest, each instantly recognising the other for what they were. And now. It was war.

"Ain't no one gonna hurt our girl." Came Mai's vicious thought.

It was a long day for all concerned. Mokuba and Seto sat with glazed eyes, as the curtain finally came down. Mai started her way down towards them, stopping just behind their row. She gave a sugary smile to Seto's companion.

"Who'd have thought, a standing ovation, and from the great Kaiba no less." Gracing Rose with another smile she explained. "Our Kaiba is very reserved, and never gives praise unduly."

Kaiba glared coldly at her. "Who the hell was she to lay ownership on him. No-one owned Seto Kaiba. No-one! Well maybe one." "I'm sensing a second." His heart came back.

"Catchy tune Mokuba, Wizard of Oz isn't it?" Mai walked away before any further exchange could begin. She made her way to Anzu who was just coming out from backstage.

"Well?" Anzu looked for a sign from Mai.

Mai however, was taken up with watching the redhead crossing the floor for a pow-wow with the judges.

"Mai, I'm asking, how was it?"

Placing a hand on Anzu's shoulder, she gave a triumphant smile as she caught Seto's gaze. "Absolutely Stellar, couldn't have done it better myself."

"But do you think it's good enough to get me to Julliard?"

"Did iceman there give a standing ovation?" Mai gave a quick flick of her hand at Seto.

Anzu blushed as she looked up to find said man watching her intently. She chewed her bottom lip.

"Well my dear, there's your answer. Now answer me this, who's the Memphis Belle over there."

Anzu would have laughed had all thoughts of the subject not depressed her so much. She looked at Mai and then to Rose.

"She's from Texas, her name's Rose."

"My heartfelt apologies to Tennessee then. What's she here for?"

Anzu sighed. "She's with Julliard."

Mai shot her a shocked look. "Time to tread carefully, I don't want to ruin Anzu's chances. But the harlot's goin' down."

"That doesn't explain her attachment to Kaiba, or come to think of it, his appearance here."

Mai gave Anzu a sly look. "You holding out on me girl."

Anzu shook her head and gave a small snort.

"Her brother is working with Seto's lab, they're making some new virtual game."

"And so boy meets girl, girl thinks I'll have a bit of that cake and whalah we have a musical." Mai lifted her arms expressively

"You," giggled Anzu, "Are absurd."

"But it made you laugh!" Countered Mai with an accusing finger

Every bit as sly as Mai, Mokuba watched his brother, occasionally punctuating the silent, but constant gaze, with a small piece of conversation.

"Anzu was great."

"Yes." Came the reply

"Do you think she'll get it?"

"Yes."

"Oh look a dog, can I keep it."

"Yes."

Now for the big one.

"She looked very pretty didn't she?"

Silence. .

Mokuba's expression grew grave, he'd run out of luck. The tight ball of emotion he managed to suppress earlier was now resurfacing.

"Why did you lie to me? You said we were coming for Anzu, it was for her though, wasn't it?"

"Mokuba, one day when you're older I hope you'll understand that it's possible to do the one thing for many reasons, not just one."

"Don't grow as single-minded as I am." Seto's gaze shifted between the crux of the matter and the new found complication. "As I was!"

With his mind made, he moved to make his excuses for leaving. Feeling a pull on his arm he turned to see Oswald beside him. A man conspicuous for his earlier absence.

"It's done. We've finally got it. Thanks to your help and our backers we'll have this baby up and running in no time, but we gotta head back to the States now. Will you come?"

"Just the very thing I was thinking about it."

Mokuba remained in place as the two men walked away.