DIS: I've returned with the seventh chapter of my musical story! (twirls around) And as always, thanks to my readers and especially my reviewers. Hugs and kisses to you all. I would like to tell everyone that this fic will not suffer from abandonment issues as so many of my stories do. (For which I am sorely sorry for.) So, with that said, I shall let you loose to read chapter seven! Enjoy.

X

Chapter Seven, Among friends

Jou sighed as he rubbed his neck wearily as he settled on the couch after putting Rena to bed. Shizuka had only given him a curious look when he arrived at home with his young daughter. He wasn't about to tell her that Otogi had been shot since he was more than well aware of his sister's feelings for the man. He simply chose to ignore them as well as he could. It was eight-thirty and although he knew that Mai had probably lingered at the hospital, he began to wonder if she jumped off a bridge or something. She's dramatic enough, Jou thought with a small smirk.

The doorbell rang and Jou, too exhausted from his bouncing around the apartment with Rena, left it for his sister. Sure enough, his tiny sister scuttled past him and the trashed living room to the door. He heard a bright exclamation from Shizuka and an answering mumble. Rolling his shoulders, Jou turned his head slightly to see one of his best friends trudging into the living room with a depressed expression. Aw, man, he thought, sighing inwardly. What's up with women today and their frickin' emotions?

"Anzu, sit down," Shizuka soothed, leading Anzu to a chair and guiding her onto it. "I'll make us some coffee. You just sit here and put your thoughts together." She hastily left, casting Jou a sharp look that warned him not to say anything stupid. He slumped in the couch. He never knew what the difference was between 'stupid' and 'smart' in his sister's book, so he just kept his mouth shut as Anzu stared at her lap with tear-filled eyes.

Damn it.

"Okay, it's in the pot," Shizuka announced as she returned to the living room. Taking the the end of the couch closest to Anzu, she took her hand. "What's wrong, Anzu? Come on and tell us. We're here to listen, after all. Did you do badly at practice today...? Did Mr. Mutou yell at you? I'll whack him right on the head if he did!"

"Oh, of course he didn't!" Anzu wailed, crying. She shoved her fingers through her hair, ignoring the tears that flooded from her azure eyes. "It's not Yami that I'm angry about, it's my dad. Yami would never make me cry." Her tears became more violent and Jou was becoming noticeably uncomfortable. Shizuka elbowed him irritably, keeping her eyes on Anzu. "He's always so understanding and sweet and thoughtful. How could he ever make me cry?" Brother and sister blinked. Sniffing and wiping her tears, Anzu said shakily, "I had Yami meet my dad today and he...he...he was being so polite to daddy, but then...then daddy called Yami lecherous for no good reason! He started ranting about how horrible pianists were. I've never seen such an offended look on someone's face like on Yami's! And daddy didn't even apologize! He didn't even seem sorry. I don't know what to do or think anymore. I want to be a dancer so badly and dance in Swan Lake and become noticeable, but I know I won't be able to do it without Yami. He's been so helpful as a pianist and a friend. I can't give him up, but I want daddy to see me dance, too..."

Aw, for Christ's sake... Jou thought sulkily, rubbing the back of his head. Why did everything that could go wrong, go wrong today of all days? Geez...

"Anzu..." Shizuka reached out again and took her hand. "I understand. Truly, I do. We have to make choices. Some are hard to make. Some we can't make at all. Jou and I chose each other over our parents. Mother and father didn't want us talking to each other because the other had custody of each of us and they thought it was triumph of the other if we spoke. It's the same for you, I think, but less difficult. Your father will have to accept who your pianist is or at least ignore him when he goes to your ballets. Try and reason with him, Anzu. It's all that can work."

"Hey, Anzu...Just how pissed was Mutou?" Jou asked eagerly. Shizuka shot him a glare that he shuddered under.

"He was angry," Anzu said after a pause, "but he didn't blame me. He knew that it was my father who was speaking of his opinion and would never see it as my fault. I'm grateful for that. He's such an amazing person. He didn't even retaliate. He just stood up and left the apartment." Her shoulders drooped and her expression became sad again. "We came here for a new beginning, to make new friends, and to become new people. Instead, all I see are more enemies than friends. Mai hates me, Yami surely hates daddy now...I never wanted enemies. I never thought making friends would – "

"Stop right there, Anzu."

She blinked in surprise.

"Now, listen, and you'd better listen to me real careful like, alright? Mai's a bitch. It's as simple as that. She even hated Shizuka for awhile when we were dating because I was closer to my sister than her. I mean, come on. Jealous of my sister? She hates me getting close to any female. I should've realized it sooner, but I didn't, so that's my problem, not yours, okay? I accidentally made you two enemies and I'm sorry. Deep down, Mai knows you're just a friend. It'll just take awhile for her to accept that. Alright?"

Anzu hesitated and then nodded. "You're right, Jounouchi. But still...it seems like there have been only bad things happening ever since I arrived here. It's like I'm a bad luck charm."

"Nah," Jou assured. "It's nothing like that, Anzu. Things happen and that's that."

"I guess..." Anzu smiled faintly. "After all, I didn't go in and shoot Otogi in his shop." Jou's eyes widened in horror and he turned to see Shizuka pale and weak. He cursed himself that he shouldn't have seen something like that coming. Apparently taking note of Shizuka's expression, Anzu clapped her hands over her mouth, her own eyes going as round as Jou's. "O-oh...I'm sorry, Shizuka, I thought you knew..."

"No, I did not!" The younger female exclaimed furiously, leaping to her feet, her face turning from pale to pink in an instant. "Jounouchi Katsuya, you had better explain to me RIGHT NOW what this is about!" He flinched, huddling against the back of the couch as she towered over him, her bunched fists shaking in anger. "JOUNOUCHI!" She screamed when he didn't say anything.

"I-it's nothing, Shizuka," he mumbled weakly. "He was just shot in the arm. He's fine, really." Her blazing eyes told him she thought otherwise. "Um...Listen, sis, don't be overreacting. Mai's already fussed over him and stuff and I don't – "

"Tell me where he is – now!"

X

Shizuka stormed down the hall of the hospital, but as soon as she arrived at the door where Otogi would be, she calmed herself. She could either be a blubbering mess or a banshee from hell. She preferred the former to the latter. Otogi had never seen her angry and she certainly didn't want him to when he was probably in great pain. She carefully opened the door and started in surprise when a familiar, handsome male turned mildly to look at her.

Yami Mutou, Shizuka said in her mind, entering the room and closing the door behind her. The man that Anzu respects so dearly and her father resents in the same amount. It's amazing that her father can hate such a man. When I spoke to him, he was perfectly polite and Jou apparently thought well of him or he would have been screaming at him when he visited us. He isn't unpleasant to look at, either. He's very nice looking. Not my type, of course, but I'm nowhere near as creative as Otogi or Anzu are. I admire them for that.

"Shizuka," Otogi murmured weakly from the bed. Averting her gaze from Yami, she looked to Otogi and her chained temper evaporated at his pale and weak form on the hospital bed. She always knew Otogi to be tall, strong, and with a gleaming, tan face and bright eyes. Now, he appeared lifeless and his eyes held no glint in them, only a dull look that hinted at exhaustion. She hastened to his side and took the hand he held out for her to take. Tactfully, Yami moved away from the bed to the window to peer out it, giving them some sense of privacy. "I was wondering if anyone would tell you. I didn't want you to worry, but I've been hoping you would stop by..."

"Anzu let it slip," she replied softly, glancing at Yami, deciding not to add that she had been upset because of his and her father's conflict. God only knew how the man would react. "Jounouchi failed to tell me."

"Naturally," the latter said with a faint smile. "He wouldn't want his little sister to become worried over me. Either that or he assumed I hadn't wanted to see anyone after Mai. If he never told you, then I would have to muster up some anger and swear at him over the phone. But then...these drugs are very taxing on my health and keep me weak and tired."

I promised myself that I wouldn't love him. For just awhile, though, I'll break that promise... "Otogi, I am so sorry." She pressed her hand to his cheek and smiled softly. She wanted to bend down and kiss him, because she knew this would be the only time she would get the chance. Angrily shoving the idea away, she withdrew her hand and folded his within hers, lowering her eyes.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Yami's deep, drawling voice drifted up to her through the haze of her emotions, "but do you mind me asking how your friend is, Shizuka Katsuya?" She blinked and raised her eyes to look at the pianist. He had turned from the window, letting his shoulder lean against it. She could see sincere concern and a bit of knowledge in his strangely colored eyes. She had a feeling he already knew how horrible Anzu was feeling.

"Anzu is...a bit upset," she answered, stumbling over her words briefly, "but she is better now. I think that the...incident...at her father's apartment today has made her a bit distraught." He smiled at her wording and she felt a blush sink into her cheeks. It wasn't the man personally that caused her to flush; it was simply that any smile from a handsome man caused her to do so.

"I suspected as much. She was vastly ashamed when she left me today and I wanted to make sure she was well." Shizuka bobbed her head. "I'll have to get her something as an apology. I don't want her worried because of the conflict between Seiji and myself." Yami wasn't lying. He had seen her troubled expression when she left him that day and knew that she was only upholding her cheerful mask so that he wouldn't be worried. Yami was used to Otogi's attempts at hiding his feelings, though, and so it was easy for him to see through her façade.

"Oh. Um..." Shizuka had no reply to that. She had never heard of someone giving a gift because of that. He really is a sweet man, she decided with a smile. She didn't see the sly smirk Otogi managed to shoot towards Yami, who just as pointedly ignored it, a corner of his mouth twitching in mild irritation. Many artists were romantic, but both Otogi and Shizuka could see this was going a bit beyond the usual "kind gesture" or "apology" gift.

"What do you propose I get for her?" He questioned Shizuka brightly. "Flowers are far too common; it should be something unique..." Shizuka and Otogi slowly moved their gazes to each other, their minds clearly on the wavelength. He smiled at her, a smile that was closer to his normal one. Yami's eyes narrowed on their expressions when they returned their gazes to his face. Why did he not like those expressions of theirs?

"I think we can figure something out unique," she assured with a smile.

X

Miho instantly looked to Anzu when she entered work the next day. She had slept over at the Katsuya's that night and had even fallen asleep, cuddled against Jounouchi after crying some more. She was feeling mortified because of that, but he had just laughed it off, saying, "It's obvious the ladies can't bear to stay away from my sexy body!" In response, she colored and punched him hard in the arm. He had just laughed again.

Despite her terrible day yesterday with everything that had happened, Anzu wasn't feeling quite as miserable. Miho's befuddled look caused her to become wary. She wasn't late and she hadn't done anything wrong, so...?

But then she saw them. Her jaw dropped, seeing three baskets of roses with ribbons around the handles sitting on a table. Each basket held a different color of roses: red, white, and yellow. She saw miniature, porcelain dolls and realized they were of dancers. Anzu gawked at them, her mouth working without any words forming. Miho cleared her throat and gave a tiny, uncertain smile.

"Umm, these were just dropped off, Anzu," Miho told her, putting her hand in her apron and retrieving an envelope. Yami Mutou had come into the café with a slightly nervous expression, as though he wasn't certain where he was. He brought two baskets and then the last one, placing them on the table and handing Miho the envelope, telling her that Anzu had to get the envelope and the letter. After he had hurried out of the café, the customers and herself had stood staring at the roses in wonderment and admiration. Miho had never known a man to be so thoughtful. She just wished she knew what had caused such sentiments.

Anzu took the envelope handed to her, staring at it with an amazed expression as she opened it.

Anzu,

I'm not as articulate when it comes to apologizing since 'sorry' never seems to cut it for me and it seems a bit rude after what I had done to you. I sincerely apologize for upsetting you yesterday. Shizuka Katsuya confessed you had come to her and Jou in a state of emotions and I felt guilty. I hope you like the roses and dolls. Otogi and Shizuka thought they were a good idea.

Yours,

Yami

"Well, Anzu?" Miho asked a bit impatiently, something that was unusual for her. "What does it say?" Anzu just handed it to her, going to the baskets and lifting one of the dolls, touching the soft, shining curls atop the dancer's head. A shy, pleased smile tipped her mouth upward and she giggled to herself, lifting the doll in her hands and pressing it against her cheek, truly touched by such a thoughtful apology. (Even though he really had no reason to apologize.) "...Hey, Anzu..." Anzu turned to see that Miho had snuck up behind her. There was a beaming, bright expression on her face. Leaning forward and covering her hand to conceal her words from anyone else, she whispered, "Are you and Yami Mutou dating?"

"W-what?!" Anzu sputtered, heat flooding to her face in shock. "No! Of course not!" Miho raised her eyebrows thoughtfully and then let out a light snort, grinning.

"Okay, if you say so." She handed her the note and then skipped away, sending her a playful look over her shoulder. Anzu felt eyes on her and bowed her head, ignoring the inquisitive stares of the customers. Before getting to work, she put the baskets of roses in the back, glad they were in closed cases with water in them so they wouldn't die while she worked.

As soon as I get a chance, Anzu thought as she hastily tied her apron on, I'm going to go see Yami.

X

Otogi was glad to have been discharged as quickly as he was from the hospital. Although his shoulder was hurting particularly bad from the stitches, he wasn't otherwise in any harm. And so, his first stop would be at the opera house to check in on his pianist friend and see how the apology roses had gone. He had known, when Yami left the hospital, that he had been seriously thinking over the idea. It was rare for Yami to even give a damn about something so trivial and it caused Otogi to ponder why his gentlemanly pride had threatened to act up.

Shrugging it off, Otogi entered the auditorium and grinned, hearing the ending of Claude Debussy's The Girl with the Flaxen Hair. There was only a pause before the piano music started into Rêverie by the same composer. Debussy was known for his gentle, expressive music, but it was never so slow that it lulled one to sleep. Yami, as an expert pianist, and clearly feeling expressive himself that day, was a genius at Debussy's music. Often enough did Otogi request Yami to play it for him when he was feeling romantic. Today he just wanted to know what had caused Yami to play this particular composer's music.

"How did it go, Yami?" Otogi queried as he stepped onto the stage and moved towards the piano, careful not to move his arm too much in case of causing any more pain to himself. The piano music halted and Yami rose to his feet, his face a mask of suspicion as he looked over Otogi. "I'm fine. It was only my shoulder, after all."

"Hmm. If you insist," was all the pianist said. Otogi raised his eyes encouragingly and Yami shifted under his stare and it was only then that Otogi realized that Yami was truly nervous, something he was certain the man hadn't even been since he first performed before an important group. After that, he had been a pillar of confidence, but Anzu Mazaki had reduced him to a normal man, something that was hard to do to someone as known as Yami. "I sent them," Yami replied after a thoughtful pause, "and I gave the envelope to her co-worker. Whether she appreciated it, though – "

"For God's sake – " Otogi began, but he, too, was interrupted, but by the doors opening. Both men turned to look to see who their visitor was to see the object of their conversation rushing up to the stage. Yami seemed to return to his confident self at seeing her beaming expression. "Hah." Otogi sent a smug look to Yami.

"Yami, what is this about?" Anzu demanded, waving his letter in his face. He just looked at her curiously. "You have nothing to apologize for! My father started conflict up, but – Oh, oh, oh! This was such a good surprise! It really cheered me up! I was in the dumps when I came to work because even though Jou was being a real sweetheart last night and Shizuka, too, I couldn't help but feel miserable about the whole situation. All those roses, though - !" She threw her arms around him, surprising him and Otogi. She landed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you so much! You're so sweet!" After that, she pranced back from the stage and just as they had watched her arrive, the two males' eyes followed her as she dashed to the doors and left with high spirits.

"...Well..." Otogi mumbled, turning to look at Yami, smiling. "I believe she just kissed you, Yami."

"Is that what happened?" Yami asked, tilting his head with a humored glimmer in his eyes. "I was paying attention to other things at the time." The two of them let out a laugh at the naughty suggestion. Anzu didn't realize how much she had brightened their friendship, not to mention their lives.

X

DIS: Just a smidgeon of Yami/Anzu romance. Trust me, when it comes, it'll be like – BAM! - Oh-my-god-that-is-so-hot-and-sexy kind of thing, lol. Don't forget to leave a review, please! Ciao!