Domino

Anzu Mazaki walked along a dark, littered sidewalk. The cold concrete made a dull slapping sound under her boots. She had just come from a dance audition in downtown domino. Normally she would have taken the bus home but unfortunately she missed the last bus for the night and had to walk home. It wouldn't have been so bad if she didn't have to walk through the slums to get there. Feeling a dark looming presence behind her she walked a little faster. Pepper spray held tightly in one hand with her finger resting on the trigger. while her keys stuck through her fingers in her other hand with the strap wrapped around her wrist. Like a poised panther ready to strike her purse in her back pack and 911 already on her cell phone screen just waiting for her to push the send button sitting in the top of her bra. No one was getting the jump on her tonight. She was prepared. A dark sneer sounded in front of her.

" Well well boys look what we've got here" Laugh's could be heard around her as well as shuffling feet. 'Oh no i am surrounded' she acted like she was fixing her backpack but was actually hitting send on her phone. Volume turned down so no one could hear the operator but the operator could hear every thing else. Muttering under her breath as she felt the voice vibrating against her chest. she said " Trace the Call" The man in front of her walked under the dim street light " Don't be shy little one come here, be kind to me. You look like delicious company" the look in those stone dead eyes made Anzu shudder but she hid it well. The mask she had placed upon her face was one that held no fear. Or at least she hoped it showed no fear and was actually trying to make her face seem bored. Anzu did not move but stayed stead fast in her place. With the strongest voice she could muster she forced herself to sound bored and unafraid. " I'm sorry is that supposed to mean something to me?" a lot of Ooos sounded around her. The leader looked confused and also a little peeved off. " You are damn right it does sweet cheeks because there is nothing better than being at the end of a king" he winked at me that greased S.O.B just winked at me! disgusted a sour feeling rested in her stomach "Well when you see one be sure to let someone else know alright?" Anzu could hear "oh shit!" and "did she really just say that to him?" "Crusher is going to crush her!" He barked "shut up!" and all was still again. " The king would be me bitch" I raised an eyebrow "really?" i feigned shocked ignorance.

He replied with a "ya really" I giggled a little "whats so funny?" I look at him with that same expression of dumbfounded laugh-ability "You think yourself a king!?" I laughed " you are no more than an over grown grease monkey who never learned to wipe the shit from his mouth before he started speaking" it was so silent the air felt like a storm was brewing. A disaster waiting to happen. I could feel anger and hate as well as hostility possibly even the attempt at murder "I have meet real kings before. They are graceful and regal. They are clean and learned. They speak with passion and fight if only there is a reason. You know nothing of royalty or what it takes to be a king. As far as i can tell your blood is as greasy as your hair and dirtier than old motor fluid. Just like your heart. You deserve nothing more than to have your ass handed to you."

I saw blue and red lights coming down the street. "Sadly i don't have the time or the patience to enlighten nor entertain you " With that i upper cut him under the chin with my keys and gave a swift right punch to his face and a hard side kick to his stomach and groin. It took a moment for the others to realize what had happened before they started to act. I maced most of them and punched and kicked the other letting go of my keys i let my strap unwrapped from my wrist as it slapped him across his cheek leaving a deep gash.

The police arrived they saw 5 criminals looking hurt and stunned and asked if i was okay i told them i was and asked if i could get a ride home as i gave them my home address. They arrested the 5 crooks and didn't even need a statement they said they already knew who the crooks where and what they had most likely tried to do. So I went home. The car ride was silent except for the road running underneath the cars tires. Every now again the indicator would sound. Thanking the officer for his kindness she bid him farewell and safe travels. He drove off only after she had closed the door behind her. Leaning heavily against the doorway she sighed.

'That worked out better than expected'

dumping her bag by the door she took out her cell phone and placed it on the hall charger. Walking the the kitchen she heard the beeping of her answering machine. Meaning she had a voice message. "Hm" she smiled "Probably just the boys wishing her luck" the first 7 voice messages where exactly what she thought she had one from Yugi, Joey and Serenity, Duke and Tristan (weird those two are hanging out together) One from her parents (made her tear up pretty bad), Mai , another from her friend Roxanne who was in Paris (she had already spoken to her this morning about the audition) and the last message was from Mokuba. Smiling at the thought of the young Kiaba brother brought her joy. Ending her messages on a happy note.

she walked to her fridge and grabbed a bottle of water and a giant orange from her fruit bowl. About to make a bee line for the couch when her answering made the beeping noise again saying she had more messages instead of it being the beeping from before it was a little more light. she realized that the beeping she heard when she first came in was not that she had messages but that her answering machine was full. She pressed the button again to play the messages this time paying attention to how many it said she had " YOU HAVE 11 MESSAGES" her head spun how many? 11! didn't she just listen to 7 messages before!? "what in the world" she listened these where messages left after her good luck ones from her friends.

The first 4 messages belonged to Ishizu her first 3 where panicked. somebody fell and had hit the marble. they where in a coma. she could hardly understand her she slipped in between English, Japanese and Arabic too much. but as she listened to each one it became clearer what had happened. But she was still not clear on who it was. The fourth message was her a little calmer now. Begging me to call her. The next 3 messages where from Yugi. basically saying that i needed to call him when i got home and i should be home now. Why haven't i called him back, why wasn't i home? he sounded worried and anxious. Joey was the next caller basically saying to call Yugi or Ishizu. One from Tristan saying the same thing. Another one from Yugi begging me to call him. and the last message was from Odion. He was calm and said do not be alarmed but that they needed to speak with me as soon as possible.

I sat on the kitchen floor dumbfounded. "What the hell is going on in the world today?" Why were the Ishtar's freaking out and what did it have to do with us? Only one thing came to mind. I tried to shake it off but the thought remained. I tried reasoning with myself. He has been gone 3 years now. 3 Christmas' 3 almost 4 Halloweens (in about 2 months) 3 Easters and 3 new years. No he was gone and that is the end of it don't get your hopes up Tea. She sighed her stage name Tea Gardner so she could seem more European. It had appealed to a larger crowd than Anzu Mazaki did. Maybe she should just change it to that and make it permanent. She thought about not calling the Ishtar's tonight she didn't know if she could handle Ishizu right now. So instead she called Odion...

to be continued...