DIS: Hello, guess who's back? Yep, it's me with the eleventh installment of The Notes Of My Heart. I discovered that the one advantage to having been in chorus for four years is that you understand (somewhat) how to read sheet music. I never applied myself much in that class, so I have been struggling to interpret some of the classical music I've been going through. In any case, enjoy the next chapter! Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing.

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Chapter Eleven, A struggle for control

Otogi looked up as the doorbell rang. He had been expecting either Yami or Anzu to call, but he had been blissfully allowed his solitude. Darkness had fallen only an hour ago, so he suspected Yami was awake by now. I can only wonder how he reacted to Anzu's being there when he woke up, he mused as he advanced towards the door. He rolled his recently wounded shoulder, glad that it only gave a slight twinge of pain. He unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. He blinked, a bit surprised to see who was outside his door.

"Hello, Otogi," Shizuka Katsuya murmured, raising her eyes bashfully. "Can I come in?" He nodded mutely and stepped aside to allow her entry. Once she was inside, he shut the door and turned to stare at her. Her cheeks coloured and she glanced quickly at him. "I...I haven't been talking to Jounouchi. He's gone tonight and tomorrow with Honda on a move. I thought I should see you now and...and apologize for what happened, so I'm sorry."

"Shizuka."

"Otogi?" She returned, blinking up at his solemn expression.

"Do you love me?" Her face turned redder and she turned her face away, twisting the end of her shirt frantically, her knuckles turning white with strain. She shakily nodded, her eyes becoming wet with unshed tears. Otogi smiled to himself and took her hands from her shirt that she was wrinkling. She turned to him, alarmed, but he merely placed soft kisses on the palms of her hands. She watched him, not speaking. "Well, I love you, too. It's...the first time I've said that to someone, you know." Still silent, Shizuka shook her head. His smile spread further and he gathered her in his arms. Her body relaxed as she snuggled close, sighing. "At least I was able to tell you..."

"Jou has to see reason, Otogi," she stated, raising her head, a determined look glimmering in her eyes. "I'll make him see reason! He's the only one that doesn't understand – even Honda does and he hates you." Otogi's mouth twisted wryly at that remark. She pulled away and bit her lip. "And what's worse, I haven't see Anzu ever since that incident with Jou. As far as I know, neither has Jou. I don't want our relationship with her to be ruined. She's like the sister I never had." Otogi hesitated, looking away. Shizuka noticed the shift of his eyes and demanded, "Do you know something?"

"I spoke to her just tonight, but – "

"Is she at home?"

"No..." Shizuka stared at him, her eyes wide with question. "She's...actually at Yami's." Her eyes turned into saucers and her mouth dropped in horror. "As far as I know, it's nothing like that, Shizuka. Anzu got worried and went to his house. He's...ill...so she's staying there until he's feeling better. That's what I got out of it, at any rate." Shizuka frowned and looked away from him, gnawing on her bottom lip. "What? Why are you looking that way?"

"It's just...couldn't there be something between them? Yami is so eager to please her and Anzu...well, she seems to care a great deal what he thinks of her. She respects him deeply." She continued to worry her lip, but Otogi ran a hand through her hair reassuringly.

"Yami is a respectable man with his fair share of flaws, just as every man, Shizuka. Their relationship, however, is none of our business. What they do, they do. I will only confess to having the same suspicions as you, but nothing further." They weren't mere suspicions, either. Otogi could sense there were underlying feelings when Yami spoke to or looked at Anzu. What the female felt was debatable because, unlike Yami, she was either not as obvious in her affections as the pianist or she was still trying to untangle her feelings. Otogi was leaning towards the latter.

"Well," Shizuka sighed, leaning against him and closing her eyes, "I can only hope that if they do feel something for each other, Yami will take into account a very large, very protective factor."

"And that is?" Otogi queried.

"My brother."

X

Miho listened to the chatter of her family around her, but it sounded like a mere hum of voices. She wasn't one to dwell on things, as she was of a more sensible character, but her mind continued to inch towards Honda Hiroto. She was a bit disappointed that he was friends with Jounouchi Katsuya, but that didn't make her think any differently of him. She liked his easy, gentle company. He was the only guy she knew of that treated her with some decorum.

"Miho," her grandfather boomed, "would you mind taking out the trash?" He flashed a broad grin and she returned it in kind. The family reunion she had been invited to outside of Domino had gone well so far. She expected someone would start some sort of controversial argument and all hell would break loose. In the meantime, she would enjoy the peace and warmth in her grandparent's home.

She took the trash and after slipping on her sandals, padded outside. Darkness had fallen on the town an hour ago, the gloom covering it and its inhabitants like a cloak. The street lights on the narrow road, like so many other Japanese streets, filled the dark with a warm, welcoming light. She dropped the black bag into the trash can at the side of the house and sighed, moving towards the gate to lean against it and peer up at the heavens above her.

"...Miho Nosaka?" Startled, she turned to see two familiar males loping down the street. She straightened, feeling warmth fill her cheeks at seeing Honda Hiroto, who had been on her mind only a few minutes ago. Beside him, Jounouchi shuffled his feet, looking as if he wanted to move on.

"Oh. Hello...Honda." She glanced at his friend, who didn't raise his gaze up to her face. Guilty, and a bit ashamed at her recollection of how she had treated him last time, she quietly said, "Hello, Jounouchi." He slowly raised his head and gave a small, uncertain smile.

"Hey, Nosaka," he replied, seemingly relieved at her calm nature. "Didn't know you lived around here." Jounouchi glanced at Honda, who, besides his address to Miho, said nothing at all. He wasn't going to make conversation with her the entire time and since there was clearly an attraction between the two, he would have to play cupid and urge them towards each other. "We were on a job here. Right, Honda?" Jou pierced his friend with a look and his Adam's apple lurched as he swallowed.

"Right," Honda choked out.

"I'll go on ahead to the van," he cheerfully added. Before either of them could protest, he bounced forward, secretly pleased with how he had handled the situation. Now, if Honda doesn't screw it up, he should have a date by the end of the night. He frowned to himself. But then again, when hasn't he screwed up when it comes to girls?

"So..."

Miho gave a tremulous smile. "So." There was a long silence that seemed thick to her ears. After debating with herself, she decided that since he seemed to be absorbed in some inner turmoil, she would start a conversation. She didn't want him to simply run off after Jounouchi. "So, um, Jounouchi mentioned that you two were at a job." She moved around the gate so that she could face him where he was situated under a street light. "What...kind of job?"

A look of puzzlement crossed his features, as if he couldn't fathom why she should want to know about his job, but answered, "We work for a moving company. We had a job here for yesterday and today to help this rich guy get moved into the old Tsubushi home." He rubbed the back of his neck and it was only then that Miho noticed his jacket hung over his shoulder; the only thing he had on was a short-sleeved, button-up shirt that was parted to reveal his wife beater. Avoiding looking at his chest and keeping her eyes fixed on his face, she smiled and nodded to show she was listening. His own mouth curled in a smile as he said, "We actually helped Anzu move into her apartment."

There's a safe topic, she thought. "Have you met her accompanist, Yami Mutou? He's a real sweetheart."

"I haven't met him," he admitted, "but Jou has and says he's a swell guy." He grimaced. "As far as I know, though, Jou and her haven't had any contact. They had a bit of an argument, you could say. You know how people are when they get angry. They say stupid shit." She nodded gravely.

"Of course. She hasn't seemed herself lately. I didn't want to ask, in case she thought I was prying. He's going to apologize, right?"

"Yeah, I gave him a good scolding." She grinned up at him.

"Are you always looking out for everyone else, Honda?" He blinked and looked away, his cheeks colouring slightly.

"Not...as much as I should," he mumbled, embarrassed. There was a pause as the two of them watched as a car drove by. Honda sighed and tucked his hands in his jean pockets to warm them. Their conversation had been so brief, but even Miho was getting a little cold. She cursed herself – not for the first time that day – for having neglected to bring a coat with her. The weather had been nice when she left, though, so how could she have known it would turn cold?

She gripped her arms, staring across the street, her eyebrows knitting together irritably at her own foolishness. Honda unfolded his jacket from his shoulder, noticing her shiver, and pulled it around her. She blinked and then blushed, taking the lapels of the coat and pulling them together. "Thank you..."

"No problem." He paused. "Listen, Jounouchi and I have to head back to Domino if we want to be back by morning. Why don't you keep that coat and when we see each other again, you can return it? We can...discuss other things, then, too." Miho turned her eyes up at him, feeling ridiculously excited at his 'discuss other things,' assuming he meant dinner or some other thing. Ruthlessly stomping on the thought, she forced her mouth upward and nodded.

"Yes, that would be really nice."

"Alright. Then I'll see you, Miho."

"Goodnight, Honda." He smiled and lifted his hand in a wave before shoving it back in his pocket and loping down the sidewalk. She watched him for a moment and then turned back towards the house, pushing her arms through the sleeves. The sleeves hung over her hands, but she took no notice of that, pressing the fabric to her face, inhaling the scent of cologne, oil, and the slightest hint of sweat. She loved it.

"Miho, where did you get that jacket?" Her mother asked in an alarmed voice as she entered the kitchen. The expected fight was starting, with her grandfather and two of her uncles glowering at each other, looking ready to enter a boxing ring.

"A friend lent it to me. He was in town and saw me." She knew that the smile she presented was dreamy by the arch of her mother's eyebrow, but ignored it. She was more eager than usual to return to Domino from this family reunion.

X

Jou sighed as he and Honda ambled towards their vehicles. Driving their U-Haul truck was exhausting, especially since he was used to a car and Honda was accustomed to driving his motorcycle. Generally Jou drove, but he didn't necessarily enjoy driving. The huge truck they used for transporting household furniture and such could be easily toppled over in the street if they went around a corner too fast. As it happened, both males loved driving fast, so the truck "cramped their style," so to speak.

"Honda, where's your jacket?" Jou asked, suddenly realizing that Honda had left the truck without anything but his shirt on.

"Umm," was all his friend said, fiddling with his motorcycle helmet. Jou rolled his eyes, already knowing by the sound of that "umm" where his jacket had disappeared to.

"Why didn't you give her your wallet and the rest of your clothes while you were at it?" He queried sarcastically. "Honestly, Honda, a grand gesture is one thing, but you're going to freeze your ass off driving your motorcycle home." Since it was only six-nineteen a.m., the air was relatively cool and while riding a motorcycle with only a shirt on, it would only be colder. With a grumble, Jou shrugged out of his jacket and threw it at his friend. "Just remember to return it this time, okay?"

Honda gave a relieved grin. "Thanks, Jou."

"Yeah, whateva."

X

When Jou stumbled through the door and heard the TV going, he knew something was wrong and had every expectation of a confrontation with his sister. He wasn't sure whether she was still angry with him, but apparently not since she didn't storm past him to her room. With a world-weary sigh, he rubbed his face and went to the kitchen, dropping his keys and a folder on the table. All he wanted at the moment was to take a shower and then go to sleep. Obviously he was one of the less luckier men in the world.

Turning into the living room, he blinked slowly, trying to understand what he was seeing. A pair of stubborn, jade eyes met his puppy-dog brown ones. Not only was Otogi Ryuuji in his house, but he was on his couch. Furthermore, his sister was curled next to the man, gazing up at him with a mild, calm expression. He pushed a hand through his thick, dirty blonde hair, staring back at them, at a loss of what to do. He hadn't slept yet, so his mind was slow in gathering his thoughts.

"I'm guessing having a tantrum isn't going to work this time?" Jou questioned with a weary smile.

"I'm going to date him, Jounouchi," Shizuka informed him without responding. "You're the only one that doesn't seem to realize how much I care about him." He avoided her gaze, looking at the TV and the news. The weather was supposed to be unpredictable this week. He wasn't really interested in that, but allowed his mind to grasp the simpler concept instead of facing the one his sister had shoved on him.

"Listen, Shizuka," he said at last, turning his eyes towards the carpet. "I knew all along that you loved him. I just..." He spread his hands out helplessly. "I've been through all of that. I was afraid you would fall head over heels in love, get married, have kids, and then everything would fall apart – you would get hurt or hurt him." Jou looked at Otogi instead of his sister, wanting to see if he was still being judged. The softening in the male's expression told Jounouchi all he needed to know: he understood.

"Jounouchi – " She began, but Otogi put a hand on her shoulder. She turned, surprised.

"That's all you had to say, Jou," Otogi said to him, smiling. "You don't have to worry about us, though. Things are...a lot different than they were with you and Mai. I'll wait for your permission, if it would make you feel at ease." Shizuka's jaw dropped in shock; this wasn't what they had agreed upon.

"Nah," Jounouchi answered, yawning and stretching his arms upward, "permission from me is harder to get than you think. Besides, I'll have someone else to bug while Shizuka is dating you."

"Oh?" One of Otogi's brows rose and even though he suspected he knew the answer, he asked anyway, "Who would that be?"

Jou flashed a wolfish grin. "Anzu, of course."

X

There was a loud buzz sounding in Anzu's head, but it didn't register to her. She was blissfully asleep in her own bed after a stressful day. After making certain that Yami was alright and after being reassured by him many times that, yes, he was fine, and yes, he would eat something and get some normal rest, she had left to her own home and promptly collapsed in bed. Now, as she buried her face deeper into her pillow and the buzzing continued, she wondered vaguely whether that was her doorbell or her cell phone vibrating.

Groaning and rolling out of bed, Anzu stumbled to her feet, half-awake, to the door. She unlocked it and blinked blearily at the lovely face that was smiling down at her. It twisted into a scowl at seeing her state of bleary sleepiness. The second face, considerably lower than the first, beamed up at Anzu, who was blinking in disbelief.

"I would have thought," Mai Kujaku drawled, "that dancers would be accustomed to waking up early, hon."

X

DIS: (cackles) I was half-delirious when I was writing this chapter, as you may or may not have noticed. Now, now, what could Mai be doing at Anzu's house and how did she find out where she lived? Yaaayy, all of you who wanted Mai to stop being a wench will finally get their wish! Please leave a review and tell me how you liked it. Ciao!