DIS: Thanks to everyone who reviewed!! You guys rock my socks off!!

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Chapter Eight, Beyond the boundaries

Mai leaned against her car as she awaited her customer. The woman she had spoken to on the phone had promised to be around to check out what was a potential new home for her by one and it was ten minutes past the agreed time. Despite Mai's constant vigilance over her daughter and Otogi, she didn't seem like she had been up late or that she had had a stressful week. Indeed, she looked as she usually would.

Hearing a sound pull up behind her car in the driveway, Mai flipped open her cosmetic case and checked herself in the mirror to make certain there was nothing amiss. With a small sigh, she snapped it closed and tucked it in her purse, straightening up from the car. Deep down, Mai knew that her looks didn't mean anything when it was only worthless men that noticed. It wasn't them she wanted to look at her with lust and interest, it was a man that she had already lost.

"Hello," her customer gasped as she came jogging up to her. "I am so very sorry. I was stuck in the worse traffic..." Mai raised her head a fraction and stared down at the shorter female. She was of fair skin with long, dark hair and hazel eyes. The woman was nearing her age of prime with a gentle figure and a softness that reminded Mai much of her ex-sister-in-law. Nonetheless, Mai kept firm with an intimidating air. Beyond her convincing words of sale, she was made a top salesperson by exuding an air of confidence. The best way, she found, was to never let the customer forget who was who, even if they were the ones with the money.

"Traffic is rather busy around this time in Domino," Mai flippantly answered, her smile agreeable, but slight. She gestured with the hand that had her papers in it. "Shall we, Miss...?"

"Mrs. Mazaki," she answered softly, smiling in response.

X

Otogi looked up as the doors were violently thrown open by a familiar, energetic child. Mai followed closely after, her mouth tilted downward in thought. Yami paused in his music, standing to meet Rena as she made a beeline towards him. In her excitement to see the man that called her "princess," she simple-mindedly passed Otogi without a word. She reached her hands up to Yami and he gave a warm smile, lifting her into his arms.

Otogi moved his head slightly to the side, puzzled by the genuine warmth his companion felt for the child. His mind was then opened to how much Yami truly did want to settle with a family of his own. It was strange seeing such a romantic musician – a pianist, at that – yearn after such a permanent lifestyle. Well, maybe not entirely permanent, Otogi corrected himself as he turned to look at Mai. "How did the sale go today?" He queried. She gave a tiny shrug, spreading her hands out.

"As well as usual, I suppose. It sold." She gestured for him to come near, glancing at Yami as he and her daughter sat at the piano to sing. As their voices rang out, one bass, the other soprano, she murmured to Otogi as he came near, "Do you know Anzu's mother?" He blinked, looking awed by the question. He had never asked Anzu about her parents and she had never ventured to mention them. It was strange that Mai would even want to discuss anything about a woman she seemed to so despise.

"You're asking me about Anzu?" He inquired with a small smile. She frowned at him.

"I'm warming up to the idea of the girl," she told him cautiously.

"Well, that's excellent. As for her mother, I have never met either of her parents. Anzu has never spoken about them, so I assumed they didn't move with her. Why? Was she your customer today?" He watched as Mai averted her gaze, not responding. There was clearly something bothering her about Anzu's mother that made Otogi worry a bit. "What? Mai, talk to me. What's wrong?"

"It's...nothing, hon." She hesitated again. "Will you watch Rena for a bit? I have a few errands I need to run and I'll be right back." Otogi rubbed the back of his neck, wincing slightly at the soreness of his shoulder. Even after a few days of healing, the wound never failed to cry out in pain. He didn't like that his friend wouldn't tell him what was bothering her, but he accepted it as it was. She always told him in the end; she just needed some time.

"Sure, Mai. Yami and I will be here for awhile."

After Mai left the opera house, she lingered outside to sigh and enjoy the warm sun dance over her skin. She had decided some time ago that she would apologize to Anzu for her rashness, just as she had had to apologize to Shizuka when she and Jou were dating. She had put it off, though, fearing that, unlike Jou's sister, Anzu Mazaki would be less forgiving and would reject her offer of friendship. Grimacing slightly, Mai started down the street towards the café.

Usually, Mai mused as she walked, I deal with men or the couple when a married pair wishes to buy a house. If it is a woman who is buying a house, she is either divorced, with a child, or single. Never married; not in the time I've sold houses. It gnawed at the edges of her mind throughout the time that Mai traveled to the café. When she arrived, she hesitated to peer in the window to make certain Anzu was working. Seeing that Anzu was working the cash register again, she took in a deep breath, opened the door, and entered the quiet café.

Anzu's eyes met hers as soon as she entered and her mouth drooped from her normal smile. She gave no welcome as she did last time, but merely took a step back as another girl came forward, her eyes careful in watching Mai. "Wait," Mai hastily said. "Please. Can I speak with you, hon?" Anzu exchanged a look with the other girl and sighed, nodding.

"Anzu," her companion began anxiously.

"No, it's fine, Miho. Cover for me?" Miho nodded and Anzu gestured for Mai to come around the counter to the back room. Following, Mai felt relief flood over her. As she did, she noticed that the feminine planes of Anzu's face were so familiar to the woman's who claimed to be Mrs. Mazaki. It erased any doubt that it was mere coincidence that this woman simply had the same last name. "So..." Anzu sighed, leaning against a counter. "What can I help you with, Ms. Kujaku?"

"I take it Jounouchi has told you about me?" Mai assumed. The younger female gave a curt nod in answer. "I see...I'm...not sure how I should explain this, but I'll try the best I can. Can you allow that much?" Anzu relaxed slightly and nodded again. "The truth is that..." She felt her chest tighten and she closed her eyes, blowing out a breath. "I love Jounouchi. I always have and it hasn't changed. I know that I have no right to get angry if he's friends with you – too many people have told me you're friends for me to believe otherwise – but I do. I get jealous if any girl comes near him. He...hates me now. Understandably, too, after some of the things I did to him. What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry." She raised her gaze to Anzu's. "I was afraid that I might lose Rena to you. After Jou and I divorced, she was all I had besides Otogi. I couldn't stand to lose her, too, after I lost him." Anzu stared at her for a long pause and then looked away, sighing through her nose.

"I hated you after you threw that coffee on me, but after such an honest apology, how can I?" Anzu turned back to Mai and smiled, seeing a different woman than the one in the café before today. "I'm not trying to steal Rena from you. The girl's a real sweetheart, but I could never take someone's daughter from them. Jou...He wanted me to continue to see her even after you said that you didn't and I told him no." Mai's mouth tilted awkwardly. She moved forward and took Anzu's hands, squeezing them.

"I feel that we can be good friends despite it all, hon. What do you think?"

Anzu observed Mai closely, looking at the lonely depths beneath the eagerness gleaming in her mauve eyes. She took in every piece of designer clothing that she wore, the soft smell of expensive perfume, and beautiful cosmetics and hair. Mai was a woman that most women would love to hate: she was the very image of beauty. Usually, Anzu wouldn't befriend a woman such as her so easily, but it was hard not to pity her. She was yearning for friendship with other women, but was unable to do so because of her jealousy.

"I think we could," Anzu agreed softly. Mai's eyes lit up and she drew away, smiling. She suddenly paused, a shadow passing over her face.

"Anzu...I hope I'm not getting too personal by asking this, but...are your parents married?" Mai knew that it was a sensitive topic by the way she looked away, her shoulders stiff with resentment.

"No."

"I see. Thank you." She reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Anzu's shoulder. Anzu turned back to her with puzzlement before smiling at her. I don't dare ask why her parent's aren't married, Mai thought as she drew away and moved towards the front to leave with Anzu close behind. All I can say for sure is that her mother is in town and plans on pretending to be Mrs. Mazaki, when she isn't involved in her husband's or daughter's lives at all. Ah...I wonder if she is as sad of a divorcée as I am?

As soon as Mai returned to the opera, she felt Otogi's eyes lock onto her immediately. Smiling faintly to herself, she reflected, If Otogi wasn't such a playboy kind of guy and if I wasn't such a high maintenance kind of gal, we wouldn't only be friends. I would never purposely try to get him, either. He and Shizuka are addicted to each other. With Jounouchi butting heads with me, and Otogi, too, there just isn't any way for them to be alone and have a serious, heart-to-heart talk. Sighing a bit, she moved up the stairs and let her rouge lips curve in a reassuring smile. Glancing at Yami, she saw him playing a soft tune for her daughter who leaned against him, a dreamy expression on her face. "He's amazing with kids," she remarked in a low tone.

"He wants a family," her companion responded blandly. She raised her eyes in surprise and saw a thoughtful look on his features. "He's getting restless, Mai. It was pure luck that Anzu was in need of an accomplice and he took the job. If not, God only knows what he would have done with himself." He echoed Mai's earlier sigh, pushing a hand against his forehead, his fringe sticking up haphazardly. "Yami is a natural socialite. You don't know this, but he has to have constant company. He told me straight out that he wants to get married and settle down with a family. It would at least bring some joy in his life."

"So what's the problem?" She questioned with an arch of a light-coloured brow. "He can snag a woman easily."

"He wants to fall in love." Mai stared at him a moment and then looked away, her eyes dark with shadows. She had thought she wanted to fall in love, had thought that she wanted someone and she had found Jounouchi. He had been craving a less familial love and had found her. She hurt him and then he had hurt her. Love wasn't as great as the romance novelists made it sound. Love wasn't this great, blinding moment that helped people through tough situations. Love didn't withstand every crisis; Mai had discovered that the difficult way.

"No, Otogi," she murmured low enough so only her ears heard, "he doesn't."

X

What a stressful day! Anzu thought, yawning as she exiting the café. I can't believe how many petty arguments I broke up between customers. I didn't think that musicians were that violent. Emotional, sure, but geez, talk about overreacting. She paused a few steps from the café as her cell phone rang. Blinking in puzzlement, she picked it up and answered, "Hello?"

"...Anzu," came her father's cautious tone. Her shoulders stiffened and she kept silent, still upset with his actions a week and some days ago. She heard him sigh over the phone, but she refused to react to the sorrow that she could sense in the weary release of breath. "Anzu, please, I called to apologize. I have something important to say that might upset you some and I know you won't listen unless I apologize properly. I...I know that I reacted badly towards your pianist, but I..." He cursed softly and Anzu sagged to the sidewalk, burying her free hand in her hair as he struggled with his thoughts.

Oh, daddy... I wish I could talk to you, but what you did...

"Anzu – " He tried again, but suddenly stopped and then mumbled, "I'm sorry. Goodbye."

"W-wait!" She gasped to the empty line. She snapped her phone closed and clenched it in her hands for a moment, considering over throwing the phone across the street.

"Anzu?" An unfamiliar voice queried from above her. Jerking her head up, unaware of her tears, she peered up in the dark at Honda Hiroto's face. Startled slightly at his genuinely concerned expression, she stood and gave a shaky smile. His gaze softened slightly and he dug in the bag he held, taking out a napkin, offering it silently. "...You're crying," he explained at the confused twist of her face.

"O-oh...Thank you." She took the napkin and wiped her face, smiling weakly. "I don't know why I should be crying. There's nothing to cry about." Honda didn't allow himself to reply, watching her wipe her face with shaking hands. His shoulders drooped and he sighed through his nostrils, looking from her as a car sped past them towards the waiting streetlights. "What, um, are you doing out here, Honda?"

Returning his gaze to her, he gave a soft smile, shrugging as he answered, "I don't know. Just..." He trailed off uncertainly, shrugging again. He hadn't realized that, after he called Jou and was informed that Anzu would be staying late to clean up the café, he had involuntarily stepped into this neighborhood and bought food from a restaurant, some of which he couldn't eat himself. Maybe his mind had been pushing him towards a more comfortable friendship towards Anzu – and he suspected that was the case – or he had been mind controlled by someone. Seeing as how the latter idea was totally barbaric, he rationalized that he had finally grown to like Anzu as a friend. "Actually, Jou told me you were staying late and I figured you'd be hungry, so I..." He let his sentence trail again, ill-equipped in handling conversations with women, no matter what the circumstance.

"Oh." She blinked and then laughed, a smile spreading across her mouth. "That would be wonderful, Honda." Her smile drooped downward a second later and she asked, "Did Jou send you out?"

"No!" He said a bit too loudly. Sheepishly, he added, "No. It's nothing like that, Anzu. I just..." He let out a heavy sigh. "Look. I suck shit at expressing what I mean through words. I've been a bitch to you and usually I am, but it was purely because I didn't want Jou to get fucked over by another girl. Mai has done it already and I was afraid, if you two became more than friends, you would do the same. I didn't want to have to pick sides like Otogi did."

Anzu reached out and put a hand on his arm, saying, "Then I'm glad you were being a bitch to me." He chuckled and ushered her forward.

"Come on, let's eat. I'll be heading over to Jou's, you want a lift?"

"Yeah, sure." I could use some time with a group of friends, she decided.

X

Shizuka heard the phone ring and wiped her hands of the mixture of hot water and soap from the sink on a towel, moving towards the cordless, black phone. She flicked a look towards the living room where Jou was perusing through their encyclopedia set for something. Smiling at the concentrated look on his face, she pushed the 'Talk' button and answered cheerfully, "Katsuya residence, Shizuka speaking."

"How are you, Shizuka?" A warm, promise-filled voice replied. She swallowed, realizing it was Otogi. She knew that he had never lost the phone number since when she had been living here alone, but since he had never called before, she hadn't been expecting it now. Dropping the towel on the table, she hurried to the entry hall to have some privacy. "Hello?" His voice came to ear, this time more worried.

"Otogi, please," she whispered, "you can't call me. What if Jounouchi had answered?"

"I had a plan," he smoothly assured her, "so let's enjoy the privacy while we can, hm?" Shizuka clenched her eyes shut and pursed her lips, forcing the tears back. She had promised that she would break his heart if she had to, just so that she could spare her brother's feelings, just so that she could keep any conflict between him and Otogi at bay. She didn't want to hurt him; it was the last thing her heart desired. How could she pretend that everything would be alright, though? How could she pretend that they could be in love when it was virtually impossible?

"No, Otogi, you don't understand..."

"Excuse me, but what don't I understand?" He politely inquired, a tone of temper entering his voice. "Explain to me, Shizuka."

"I...I just can't talk to you!" Her voice had risen from the whisper, a hysterical edge forming on the ends of her words. "How can you not understand that? I can't see you, I can't talk to you. It's done and over with, so please, just..." Can I say it? "...Just leave me alone!!" She stabbed at the 'Talk' button again to end the call just as Jou came stumbling into the entry hall, his eyes wide with concern.

"Sis? What's wrong? Who's bothering you?"

"No one, Jounouchi." She took in a shaky breath and stood, her hands clutched around the phone as a lifesaver. "I have to finish the dishes..."

"What? Hey! Shizuka!" He started after her, but seeing the set of her shoulders, he stopped, a befuddled expression covering his features. After a pause, he just sighed and rubbed his head, returning to the den. It wasn't any of his business what his sister did and when she was upset, it wouldn't help any to bother her and have her talk about it. He had learned, after the first month of living with her, that she was the type of female that preferred to rage inside her head than to another person.

X

What the hell is going on? Otogi demanded, staring at the phone, sitting upright, his eyes blazing. He had been pleasantly lounging on his couch, ready to talk just as pleasantly to the woman he loved when he got such stinging words as that. Shizuka probably didn't realize how every word had stabbed a separate needle in his heart, but it was becoming glaringly apparent that unless he dealt with the problem of her damned brother, he would never be able to talk to her civilly again. Even the conversation at dinner with Anzu had been strained, as though something was lurking in the back of Shizuka's mind. "Well, to hell with it all!" He snarled aloud, bouncing to his feet and grabbing his car keys and jacket. "I won't let something as small as Jounouchi Katsuya stop me!"

As he drove somewhat madly to the apartment complex where the Katsuya's dwelled, he was inwardly hesitating. Honestly, he had no desire to start a fight with Jou, but his options had become limited. He considered calling Yami, just in case he needed backup, but he didn't want to get him wound up. Who knew what kind of punch Yami had when he was pissed off. Personally, Otogi had no intention of finding out.

When he pulled up in the parking garage beneath the Katsuya's home, he saw Honda Hiroto and Yami's dancer arriving on a motorcycle. Temporarily stunned by the sight of them together, he stared for a moment, crazy, nonsensical ideas racing through his head. Shaking them off and deciding that dealing with them later would be the more intelligent thing to do, he ran past them and up the steps to the apartment number Shizuka lived at. He gave the door a good banging and waited patiently until the door was opened by the male resident. "Jounouchi," Otogi politely greeted, his blood boiling beneath his calm mask.

"Hey, Ryuuji..." Jou replied amiably, his gaze wary. "What brings you here?"

"Otogi?" Anzu piped from a few feet from them, Honda at her side, looking as cautious as his best friend. "What's going on?"

"We definitely arrived at the wrong time," Honda muttered gloomily beside her. She cast him a questioningly look, but he chose not to answer. If he knew Otogi Ryuuji – and as it happened, he knew him rather well – the look in his bold, emerald eyes could only mean that it wasn't entirely Jounouchi whom he had business with. He had known Otogi's attachment to Shizuka when he first met Jou's sister, but never suspected it would come to this. The only obstacle lying within Otogi and the female in speaking was her brother and as obstacles go, this was a pretty damned difficult one to pass by.

Hearing Honda's comment, Jou's expression darkened considerably and Otogi was reminded which of the two was the less violent musician and who was the violent moving man. He didn't back down, though, keeping his gaze steady and attempting to ignore the slight shaking of his fingers. "I see..." Jou quietly stated, his eyes taking Otogi in piece by piece, as if he were a wolf and Otogi were a lamb. "So." He glared at Otogi and cracked his knuckles experimentally. "You want to continue with this or turn around and go back to your car and your violin, pretty boy?"

"Jou..." Anzu nervously began. Honda just shook his head at her.

"I'm not leaving anywhere, Katsuya, until we straighten a few things out," Otogi informed him a bit cockily. Jou's jaw tightened and he looked even more threatening before, if that was even possible.

"Jou? What's going on?" Shizuka pushed through and her face paled at the sight she was faced with. She whipped around to look at her brother, who didn't so much as remove his gaze from Otogi. Tugging on his arm, she demanded, "Jou! What is all of this? Why...why is Otogi here?"

"He's 'straightening a few things out,'" Jou quoted, his mouth twitching upward in a humorless smirk. "Well, he seems to think he is, anyway. Go back in the house, Shizuka."

"No! Jou, please! Let him leave!"

"Ya think I didn't try?" He snapped, jerking his head to look at her. "Why are you asking me questions, Shizuka? The goddamned guy hasn't come by for ages and suddenly he pops up out of nowhere, not ta mention, right after that weird-ass phone call you had a half hour ago." He shoved a finger towards Otogi without actually looking at him. "You want to explain to me why this is all suddenly starting? Huh?"

"Jounouchi, please," Anzu quietly spoke up in the silence that had taken hold, "it wasn't Shizuka's fault. It was mine. I invited Otogi over when you were gone, knowing he wanted to see her and – "

"Well, what do you fucking know!" Jou howled, turning his fury on Anzu. "What right do you have to let them see each other when I'm gone?"

"Jounouchi!" Shizuka snapped. He turned to look at her and she slapped him across the face, surprising him. He was quiet for a long time, shocked at the hit. It hadn't only harmed him physically, but emotionally, as well. His sister had never slapped him before. "Can't you understand?" She whispered, tears overflowing from her eyes. "I love him. If you can't accept that..." She didn't finish her thought, shoving past him into the apartment.

"Shizuka!" Otogi called, his expression of pain at seeing her cry. He didn't attempt to enter, though, seeing as how it wasn't his home and Jounouchi was standing right there. True, he was immobile and didn't appear consciously aware of anything, but he was there nonetheless.

"Jou?" Honda snapped his fingers in his friend's face and the latter jerked, his face twisting into an ugly expression. "Hey, man, are you alright?" Jou darted a look to Otogi and backed into the apartment, his expression never changing.

"Go away." He slammed the door in their faces and they could hear the locks being set on the door.

X

DIS: Yikes. Jou's being a little more than protective. There was more to this chapter, but I cut it out because it was getting long and I put it in the next chapter. Kill me if you want, but that's how it works in my world. Please, please leave a review telling me how it was. I need feedback! I live on it! Ciao!