We are getting close to the end of this little ficlet now! Two, maybe three to go, depended on whether I get carried away and write more when I edit. If there's anything you would like to see happen, then let me know and I might be able to squeeze it in.

Please note: the little French restaurant is something I made up and is, as far as I know, fictional.

Chapter 12.

Fist of Fury.

By the time Anzu finished work, it was three o'clock. She did not mind, even if the money wasn't that much an extra hour's pay would still come in handy.

Because it had been busier than usual thanks to the springlike weather bringing more people out, she had not had time to type up her resignation, but she had managed to tell her boss and her work colleagues about her plans to go home to Japan. Needless to say, the two people she had come to know best, Kirsten and Liam, were sad to see her leave. News of Tony's killing was all over the local papers, and they were concerned that the reason she had decided to go back to Japan was because she might have witnessed the shooting –oh, little did they know.

"Yes, it is terrible news," Anzu said, trying to sound like it did not really bother her. The papers were saying it was a gangland killing. Thankfully there was no mention herself or Yugi being involved, so Anzu was happy to let them believe the gangland explanation, since that was plausible. They did not need to know any more than that.

"Were you still seeing him?" Kirsten wanted to know.

"Good God no! I decided he wasn't my type after the first couple of dates!" After Kirsten had made it clear that she did not like Tony, Anzu had kept quiet; her private life outside of work was none of their business. She certainly had not told them that she was working as a dancer in Tony's club!

Luckily, they were too busy serving customers to spend too much time chatting about it, and Anzu was relieved just to get on with her day.

The day went quickly, and after agreeing to her manager's request for her to bring in her written notice in the morning, Anzu put on her coat and left the cafe.

It was a pleasant afternoon outside, and Anzu unzipped her coat as she walked with a newfound spring in her step; she really was leaving, and surprisingly she felt no regrets, only relief. Her optimism might have been lost in the mire recently, but at heart she had always been a positive person, and she liked to think that while one door was about to close behind her, a new door was opening. And she would be stepping through it with Yugi.

All that remained now was for her to give notice to her landlord, and tell him she was leaving at the end of the month. Her newfound spring sagged somewhat; dealing with her landlord was not a task she would enjoy.

Steeling herself, she rang the doorbell of his apartment, that also served as his office. Behind the door, she heard some muffled grunting and swearing, before the door was opened just a crack. With the security chain still in place, an unshaven face, with nasty, nicotine stained teeth leered at her through the gap. "Whadya want?" Came the gruff voice.

Anzu cleared her throat and tried not to grimace in disgust, at the smell of tobacco smoke, bad breath and body odour that wafted out at her. "Hello Mister Collins. I, erm. I have come to let you know I will be vacating my apartment on the twenty fifth of March."

He opened the door properly. "You're that hoe from upstairs, ain't ya? The one who's pimp got murdered on my premises. Yeah, well your type ain't welcome anyway," he drawled, nastily.

Anzu seethed. "How dare you!" It was all she could do not to call him a filthy, disgusting drunk, who's premises were not fit to house rats, but she did not want more trouble. And not only had she paid up her rent until the end of the March, he also had her eight hundred dollars deposit, which she wanted back when her tenancy agreement terminated. "I am not a whore. Tony was shot because he came here late at night yelling at me and got into a fight with one of the neighbours."

His piggy little eyes looked her up and down. "Yeah, whatever. And I'll be keeping your deposit to pay for repairs. That bullet, and the cops digging it outta the wall did a lot of damage."

"What?! But I need that money to pay for my flight home! Please, I'm sure it won't cost that much to repair! What about insurance?"

"Insurance don't cover me for gangsters shooting it out in my building." He scratched at his crotch and then clutched his loins through the material of his filthy trousers, overhanging beer belly bouncing repulsively. "But if ya want your deposit back, there is one thing you can do for me, if ya get my drift?" He leered at her in a perverted way, showing plaque encrusted, rotting teeth.

Anzu nearly vomited. "Ugh!" She gagged. "In your dreams," she snarled. "You can keep the dammed deposit, for now. I will be consulting my solicitor." Not that she had a solicitor, but at least it sounded like a good threat.

"Yeah, Miss. You do that. Now if you'll excuse me, I wanna get back to the game." Over his shoulder, Anzu could see the TV set on the wall playing a baseball game. He explained, "I'll put the documents for you to sign to terminate your rental agreement through your door."

"Yeah, Mister. You do that," Anzu bit back. What a horrible man, she thought as she went up to her apartment.

Reaching her door, she inspected the cracked, chipped plaster round the edge of her door where the bullet had ended up after it had passed through Tony. Keeping her eight hundred dollar deposit for a repair she was pretty sure he would not bother to make, was a liberty; she could probably buy a tub of ready mix plaster for a few dollars and patch the wall up herself.

Looking at the interior of the building, the paintwork and plaster was full of damage already. In fact, the whole apartment block was a health hazard; lifts not working, drugs being dealt and taken in the downstairs hallway, a fire escape that broke regulations because the door was locked. Anzu could probably report her landlord for the fire escape alone. However, she did not really want any more trouble for herself and wondered if she would do best just to suck it up and go quietly.

Perhaps she would speak to Yugi, and see what he thinks she should do.

Once inside her flat, Anzu took a shower and then changed into a pair of stretch jeans, a fitted tee-shirt and a pink hooded top. She then made herself a mug of green tea and sat down to rest her weary feet. She would miss the people she worked with at the cafe, but she definitely would not miss being on her feet for seven hours straight, without a proper break!

Sipping at her tea, she wondered how Yugi was getting on with Pegasus there. She had not heard from him since their exchange this morning, and decided to send him a message to see what time he wanted her to come and meet him. She had been toying with the thought for a couple of hours now, but wondered if it would be okay if she just turned up at the conference centre. She would love to see him demonstrating his game, but had forgotten to ask him if it was invite only for corporate clients and V.I.P guests, or if anyone could attend.

:::::::::::

Yugi was with Pegasus, discussing the technology that had gone into the new duel monster holograms, when his phone screen lit up as it started vibrating on the desk. "It's Anzu. Do you mind?" He said, reaching for it. "She probably wants to know what time we're meeting tonight."

With a bright smile, Pegasus nodded. "Go ahead. Tell her either six fifteen here. Or six thirty at my favourite French restaurant, " when he spoke of the restaurant, his voice reverted to its usual musical cadence, underlining his love for the place.

It made Yugi smile; he had heard all about the small, family run restaurant that Pegasus seemed to find, in his own words, 'an adorable little place'.

Giving a a quick nod of acknowledgement, he stood and walked away as he answered the call so that Pegasus could not eves-drop on their conversation. "Hey Anzu!"

"Hey Yugi. You sound cheerful. I'm guessing Pegasus is not being too much of a pain?"

Yugi laughed. "Yeah. He's being a pain alright. But he seems to have calmed down a bit and we've been discussing the technology that he has co-designed with Kaiba. It's pretty impressive what it took to develop such ground breaking holographic technology. I didn't know it, as I thought it was tried and tested technology already in use. But, apparently, Kaiba used Spherium as the the prototype, meaning my game was the first to actually use it, before the Duel Monsters cards even!" He sounded excited and Anzu found his enthusiasm infectious, giving her a warm feeling in her chest. But she also wondered...

"Wasn't it a bit risky to use something new and untested on you game Yugi? I mean, if it hadn't worked properly..."

"Hey!" Yugi interrupted. "You should know Kaiba Corp. products never fail," he chuckled. "Kaiba says that a lot. So I'm pretty sure he would never use anything unless he was sure it would be good; his reputation would be at stake."

"Yeah," she shrugged to herself. "I suppose so." Deciding to change the subject, she said, "Anyway, Yugi. I was thinking.. Is the convention open to the public? Or is it just a corporate thing?"

"It's open. Only the first day was corporate and guests only. The last two days have been open to the public. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking of coming along. I would love to see you demonstrate your game first hand. So, I was wondering if you could get me in, you know, as your guest?"

Yugi blanched slightly and looked over his shoulder at where the two technicians, tactless Martin, and the slightly less tactless Dave, were crawling about underneath a mound of cables trying to find and repair a fault with the lighting gantry that illuminated the big letters; KC. Yugi had wondered if Pegasus might have sabotaged it on purpose so that only the C lit up.

"Yugi? You still there?" Anzu asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Y.. Yeah. I'm.. What did you say again?" He quickly added, "Sorry! Someone was trying to distract me."

"I asked if I could come to the convention for the rest of the afternoon, as your guest. I would love to see you demonstrate Spherium. I'm afraid I missed the demo you did with Kaiba."

"Oh! Right, okay. It.. erm, might not be a good idea." He grimaced as he spoke. He felt awful trying to put her off, but after the things Martin and Dave had said about her...

Yugi heard her clearing her throat. "Why? I thought you said it was open to the public?" She sounded disappointed.

"It's not that. I'm quite busy. I might not be able to spend time with you." He felt mean making excuses.

"That's okay. I wouldn't intrude on you while you're working. I would quite like to wander round and see what other games and stuff there are."

"Right," he said slowly, trying to find an excuse that would keep her away from the Kaiba Corporation and Industrial Illusions trade stands. "It might not actually be a good idea for you to come and see me though." Even as he spoke, he knew he sounded all wrong.

And sure enough, she saw through him. "What's the problem Yugi? Are you hiding something?"

"No!" He blurted so loudly that Martin peered out from behind his monitor at him with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. The bastard knew Yugi was talking to her.

Moving away, Yugi spoke much more quietly. "It's just... There's no easy way to say this, so I don't want you to get upset, right? But some of the guys that were there the other night, at the club. Well, they said some stuff. It was disrespectful towards you."

He almost hear her seething on the other end of the line. He heard her huff loudly. "Then perhaps I should come anyway. I can give them a piece of my mind," she snarled.

"Please Anzu. I don't want any more trouble. I already had to deal with them yesterday. They're jerks and they were saying some pretty digusting things –worse even than sort of things Jonouchi used to say at the start of high school."

He heard her sigh. "Okay. If it makes it awkward for you, I won't come. But where should I meet you?" She sounded disappointed and her words were clipped. Quite rightly so, he thought, feeling a tad guilty.

A moment later, he suddenly had a change of heart.

Screw Martin and Dave. If Anzu wanted to come, then she should. He was not going to be intimidated into stopping her by those two jerks. "I've changed my mind Anzu. If you want to come, then it's fine by me. If they started anything, I will openly support you while you give them a piece of your mind." He said it with such passion and resolve, that it made Anzu smile.

"No. it's okay Yugi. I don't want to cause any embarrassment on your last day there. It will just upset us both for this evening. And anyway, I don't want Pegasus knowing what I have been doing for a living." She paused. "He doesn't know, right?"

"I don't think he does. I certainly haven't told him. And he hasn't really spoken to anyone other then myself and Caroline, the saleswoman."

"Where shall I meet you then?"

As Yugi told her the name and address of the French restaurant they were going to, she frowned. "Yeah. I know where it is." It was just two doors along from the family run Italian restaurant owned by Tony's uncle. He had taken her there twice, and just seeing it would likely bring back bittersweet memories. But she did not want to say anything to Yugi about it. It was her gremlin to deal with, and deal with it she would.

::::::::::::

Unbeknown to Yugi, Pegasus had booked the restaurant exclusively, for all of the staff who had been working on his stand at the convention. And when he gathered the staff round at five o'clock to announce they were all invited to dine with him at six thirty, Yugi blanched.

Of course, it was a freebie and most of the staff accepted, including Martin and Dave, who were already talking about drinking as much as they could because Pegasus was paying. Pegasus just laughed at their stupidity –free drinks would be limited anyway.

Yugi snarled at the thought of Martin being there, lip curling in distaste.

When everyone dispersed back to their work stations, Yugi asked Pegasus, "I thought it was just you me and Anzu?" He was anxious about what the two jerks might say when they saw Anzu.

"Oh, Yugi. Are you jealous about having to share me with others?" He joked. Yugi pulled a vomit face.

"No, of course not! I just wasn't expecting a big party."

"I like to reward my workers now and again for their hard work. I find it's good for staff morale, and keeps them enthusiastic and loyal." Whatever people thought of Pegasus as a person, he could not be accused of being a bad employer.

Yugi shrugged. "I guess." He wondered if he should warn Anzu.

::::::::::::

Anzu's phone was on charge, so she did not see the message from Yugi until she was changed into her dress and ready to leave. Oh! Well, it was too late to worry about the two guy's Yugi thought might say or try something to humiliate her. She was quite prepared to deal with those two morons, and had a string of rehearsed comebacks if need be.

She was worried about Yugi being embarrassed in front of Pegasus though. Pulling on her burgundy faux-fur coat, she huffed; Yugi would just have to deal with it.

The springlike day had turned into a foggy, cold early evening. And Anzu was glad of her thick coat as she made her way to the Subway to catch a tube train to the restaurant.

When she arrived at six twenty five, everyone was already there. The warmth hit her as she entered the restaurant. People she assumed were Yugi's co-workers, were standing around inside, chatting merrily, drinks in hand. The smell of garlic and herbs and delicious aromas from whatever they were cooking in the kitchen also greeted her.

She scanned the dimly lit interior for Yugi. Thankfully, his unique hair made him easy to spot; he was standing talking to two women. He looked to be really enjoying whatever conversation he was having with one of them, and for some reason she felt a hint of envy bubble up in her chest.

Telling herself off for being so stupid, she made her way towards him, but was accosted by a leering fool with poor fashion taste, dark hair that was thinning on top, and sporting a scruffily trimmed beard. "Hey babe. Have you come to entertain me?" Just for good measure, he stood too close and then thrust his pelvis towards her, gyrating his hips in what he thought was a seductive fashion.

Two perverts in one day was too much! Anzu glared at him like he was a turd. "Ugh! Who on earth do you think you are? John Trevolting?"

Martin leered at her. "Nah.. I'm the guy you're gonna dance for, if you know what I mean?" Just for good measure, he added a wink. "How much do you charge for extras?" He cackled at his own joke.

Anzu felt like kicking him where it would hurt. "Back off jerk! Before you end up singing soprano."

Meanwhile, Yugi had noticed and came storming over. He placed a protective arm around Anzu as he confronted Martin, "Like she says, Martin. Back off." Everyone was looking in their direction now, all appalled at Martin's crass behaviour.

Martin laughed and slopped his beer. "Oops! Are you tryin' to keep her all for yourself now Yugi? As far as I'm concerned she's fair game."

What happened next, surprised Anzu so much that she let out a yelp.

In one fluid motion, Yugi balled his fist and hit Martin square on the side of the jaw, sending him sprawling onto his backside. "I said, back off!" His stance was threatening as he stood over Martin, and, not that she condoned violence, but Anzu was secretly very proud of him.

"Ow!" Martin rubbed his already swelling jaw. "The fuck dude! What was that for? I was only kidding."

"Yeah, well it wasn't funny," Yugi said, shaking his throbbing fist. He had never hit someone like that and his hand hurt. "I won't let you insult any woman like that, especially NOT my girlfriend."

"Oh, Yugi!" Anzu said emotionally, as she gripped his arm. "Please? That's enough. I'm grateful you're sticking up for me, but I don't want you guys fighting."

Martin was holding his face, his temper was rising and he was trying to get up to retaliate. But Dave grabbed him "You deserved that, you idiot," Dave said, "You're bang out of order."

"Yeah, well punching me for making a joke ain't called for either," Martin grumbled, trying to shove Dave to get to Yugi, who was still standing like a guard dog ready to pounce.

"Yugi?" Anzu put her arms around his waist to try and calm him, but was shocked at how tense he felt.

Having observed the incident unfold, Pegasus now approached. He glared frostily at Martin. "A joke that was not that funny, I hasten to add."

However, when Pegasus turned to Yugi, his face broke out into a gleeful smile, as though he had enjoyed the entertainment. "That was quite a punch you threw, Yugi! I never imagined you to have such fists of fury, " he said, sounding as proud as Jonouchi would have if he had witnessed Yugi punch someone.

He patted Yugi on the back, before turning back to Martin, with a now thunderous expression. "I will not tolerate spiteful fools who abuse and insult women. Get out out of my party. You are no longer welcome."

Martin opened his mouth to argue, but Dave stopped him. "Come on dude? Do as he says, please?" Dave turned to Pegasus. "I don't think he'll apologise, so I apologise for him."

"I ain't sorry! He's the one that threw a punch." Martin pointed at Yugi. "If they throw me out they gotta chuck him out too."

Pegasus rolled his eye. "Yugi Muto and the lovely Miss Anzu Mazaki are dear friends of mine. You insulted them and are now making me very angry." He snapped his fingers and a burly bodyguard appeared. "Throw him out."

Martin held up his hands. "Okay! Okay! I'll go of my own accord." He threw Yugi a nasty look, for which Yugi did not give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Your employment is also terminated," Pegasus said, blandly.

"What? You can't sack me!" He looked around for some support, but there was none.

"Oh! But I can," Pegasus sang, frivolous notes of superiority in his voice.

Even Dave had decided he had had enough, and shoved Martin's jacket at him. "Here. You'll need this. It's cold outside."

"But!" Martin spluttered. "If I'm leaving, you are too! We're buddies, and buddies stick together, remember?"

"NO. We're work colleagues who got on well. But not any more. Not after you overstepped the line and insulted a woman to her face."

With a huff, a dejected Martin stormed out of the restaurant, to the sound of cheering behind him.

Well done Yugi! We all know he's not a violent man, but he's a man who will fight to protect people he loves. He's been pushed to his limits quite a bit in this and this time he snapped. Anzu may not like him behaving more like Jonouchi would, but appreciates that he is protective of her.

Please review.