Chapter 20: Piecing it Together
"So, you have a course of action?"
"Indeed I do, My Lord."
Zorc rested a cheek against one of his hands, motioning with his other hand for Yamir to continue.
"Elaborate."
Yamir grinned, giving a bow.
"I know you would prefer to have the quicker route of taking out the Pharaoh but honestly, I would love to make him squirm more. What better way than to build him up then tear him right down when he's at his peak?"
"Hm… Promising." Zorc chuckled. "And how do you plan to start this build up?"
"Oh, by just initiating a few games…" Yamir's eyes gleamed with malice. "I'll just need your help with influencing people in the right direction."
"Easily done. Anyone you have in mind to go first?"
Yamir chuckled.
"Indeed I do. Someone so vain and despicable already that no one would suspect your influence."
His grin took on a crooked look as he thought of the woman, her hair and piercing blue eyes ingrained in his mind.
"Well, they sound quite lovely. Care to introduce me?"
"I would be honored."
She's quite a lady.
oooooo
They were all worried.
After everything that happened with Seto, Honda, Jonouchi, Anzu and Miho were all very concerned for Yugi.
The boy was currently sitting at his desk, fiddling with his pendant. His eyes had dark circles under them and his hair didn't have its usual sheen. He looked about ready to collapse with how his head was bobbing.
"Should we ask?" Miho whispered.
"I'm not sure." Honda rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, if something was up I would think he would tell his friends."
"Well, sometimes you just need to nudge."
Jonouchi quickly made his way over before anyone could stop him, tapping Yugi on the head.
"Hey, Yug. Late night?"
Yugi gasped, jumping out of his seat, the puzzle flying in the air for a moment before he caught it.
Jonouchi backed up a bit, startled by the reaction.
"Whoa, didn't mean to scare you. You okay?"
"A-Ah yeah um… late night." Yugi forced a smile. "Natsuki was having a nightmare and it took a bit to get her back to sleep."
"Ah… and that's it?"
"Yeah… Why asking?"
"Don't take this the wrong way Yugi but you look like a zombie. That Kaiba punk isn't bothering you, is he?"
Yugi shook his head.
"No, no, no, I haven't heard from him since… well… you know."
"Good, so that rules out that. Anything else?"
"Not really…" Yugi looked down at the puzzle.
Jonouchi followed his gaze.
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'm… fine." Yugi sighed. "Look… I just… need time to process everything that happened. Plus… I… I'm just not sure if I can talk about something yet."
"So there is something." Jonouchi frowned. "I won't force you to speak. Trust me. I get it."
"You do?"
"I do. Trust me there are some things I haven't even told you yet. But… I'll get there. That's part of being friends, right?"
Yugi smiled, this time a genuine one, nodding.
"Yeah. Thanks for understanding."
"Anytime, Yug." Jonouchi ruffled his hair, eliciting a laugh. "Though now…" He looked over to their group. "I think you could use some medicine."
Anzu and Miho didn't waste a second to hurry over to Yugi, both bringing their arms around him.
"Uwah!" Yugi laughed, trying to hold back a blush. "G-Guys!"
Anzu shook her head, before running her hand through his hair.
"Let us care about you."
Miho nodded.
"We're not letting anything happen… not again." She frowned. "You've been through enough lately."
Yugi looked down at the puzzle, shaking his head a little.
"I… I'll be okay."
"You will… And we'll have your back." Anzu smiled. "Don't forget you can come to us with anything."
"Don't forget, I'll always be at your side."
He brought a hand to his forehead, wincing.
Where had that come from?
I'm not sure if I'm ready yet… but I know I can count on them.
I just… don't know how they'd react to this. Nat already sounds crazy enough to them when she's on one of her rambles…
Honda joined them, chuckling at the sight of the girls fawning over Yugi.
"It'll all be okay, Yugi. We promise."
"Thanks guys." Yugi relaxed, closing his eyes. "Means a lot."
"We need to perk you up." Honda snapped his fingers together. "I'll get you a soda from the vending machine."
"I'll come with you." Jonouchi grinned. "I want something too anyway. Plus, I run faster. Gotta get it to him before Ms. Chuono sees."
Both boys nodded, booking it out of the room.
"And while they're doing that." Anzu dug into her bag, pulling out a bento. "Here." She took out an onigiri. "This should help too."
Yugi turned bright red, taking the food.
"A-Anzu…"
She gave a wink.
"Well, don't wait. Eat up."
"R-Right!"
Yugi dug right in, Anzu and Miho chuckling.
"I swear you always have food for every occasion in that bag of yours." Miho giggled. "You're like a mom."
"Well, I'll have you know." Anzu grinned, crossing her arms. "I take pride in being the mom friend!"
"Um… Excuse me."
Both girls perked up, turning around.
Behind them was a fellow classmate. She had dark long brown hair, tanned skin and piercing red eyes. She had a shy smile on her face and was fidgeting with her hands.
"Oh, Akane-san." Anzu smiled. "What can we do for you?"
"Can… I ask you two about some… one?" She looked around, seeming to be afraid of being caught. "Just between us girls?"
Miho and Anzu exchanged a look before nodding.
"Sure thing. Yugi, finish your food."
He blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Do I skip meals that often?"
Anzu narrowed her eyes.
He ate the onigiri in his hands faster as they walked out.
Geeze she's protective!
oooooo
Once they were in relative privacy, Anzu turned to Akane, crossing her arms.
"So… what do you wanna ask us?"
Miho grinned.
"Is it about one of the boys?"
Akane blushed, nodding.
"It is… In particular…" She took a deep breath before speaking again. "Jonouchi-kun."
Their eyes went wide.
No… She couldn't have been serious right?
"JONOUCHI-KUN!?" Miho yelped before Anzu covered her mouth, shushing her, looking around.
"Shh! If Ms. Chuono overhears us, she'll wonder what we're doing here!"
"Sorry, sorry!" She whispered back. "I just… That's… It's Jonouchi."
"Yes, and?" Akane frowned. "... He's not seeing someone, is he?"
"No, he isn't." Anzu shook her head. "Just… Um… Don't take this the wrong way Akane but you do know he's… a delinquent, right?"
"I'm aware." Akane's gaze turned serious. "But… he's not a bad person."
Anzu smiled.
"No, he's not… he's a bit rough around the edges but he means well."
Miho rubbed her hands together, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"So, Akane-san likes the bad boy types… I like where this is going~! What about him do you like best? How can we help!?"
"Well, I love how gentle he is with those he cares about." Akane blushed, playing with a strand of her hair. "Yes, he's rough and tumble but under it all he's got a kind heart." Akane sighed wistfully. "He's like a dragon. He's fierce, yet warm."
Miho's gaze softened into a gentle smile.
"All of his best traits right there."
Anzu giggled.
"He's also a big geek who gets excited about video games and trading cards like Yugi does. Honestly, he's let a lot more of himself be seen since hanging around us more." She grinned, nudging Akane. "Soooo how can we help?"
"Well… I want to give him a gift." Akane blushed. "As a way of… well…" She turned redder.
"To tell him you like him?" Anzu asked, with a knowing look.
Akane nodded.
"Yes. I've been trying to work up the courage to talk to him for weeks but he's always running off before I can get him alone."
"Hm… Well…" Anzu hummed in thought. "If we could give him a gift that'd make him sit still…"
THUD!
Little wooden pieces scattered along the floor. Anzu winced, getting up, looking around her in worry.
"Uh oh…"
"Anzu? You okay?"
Anzu looked up to see Yugi holding a hand out to her.
"I… I'm okay… What is this?"
"Oh? This is-"
… What was that?
"... What if we asked Yugi?"
"Eh?" Akane got a startled look. "But what if he-"
"Yugi is very good at keeping secrets." Miho winked. "Besides, he might have a good idea of what to get Jonouchi."
"... Okay." Akane smiled. "Let's ask him."
The girls returned to the classroom. Yugi seemed more awake now, the boy currently leaning back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head.
"Hey, Yugi?" Anzu smiled, leaning against his desk. "Can we ask you a favor for Akane-san here?"
"Hm? Sure." Yugi looked at the girls. "What is it?"
Akane put her hands together, giving a pleading look.
"Can you help me pick out a present for Jonouchi?"
"Huh!?"
Miho propped her elbow on his head.
"You wouldn't tell him either about it ,riiiight?"
Yugi rolled his eyes, batting her arm away.
"Of course I wouldn't tell - and I'd be happy to help." He looked at Akane, giving a thumbs up. "What do you think you wanna give him?"
Besides… I know a little bit more about him than they do…
"Jonouchi… Hey, where are your eyes? The cards are right here."
Jonouchi seemed lost in thought, gazing across the room, letting out a small sigh.
Yugi followed his gaze before a wry grin formed on his face.
"Oh… I see."
"Not one word!"
"She is pretty."
"So is Anzu."
"Understood."
"Well… Something that could help me… figure out what to say maybe?"
Yugi smiled softly.
"I have just the thing at the shop. Come with us after school. My grandpa's got JUST the thing!"
Akane's eyes lit up.
"Thank you!"
Yugi gave a thumbs up… just as the door to the classroom slammed open.
Jonouchi walked back in, an irritated look on his face, Honda following behind him… Mahad right behind both of them, the man's face set in a deep scowl.
"What… happened to you three?" Anzu asked. "... Where's Yugi's soda?"
"Ms. Chuono happened." Jonouchi groaned, rubbing his head. "Screeching about calories and how students aren't supposed to have ANYTHING personal. Holy crap, she was like a harpy."
"Worse." Mahad pinched the bridge of his nose. "She then had the nerve to insinuate it was MY poor teaching that made them "break the rules."
"Even though there's nothing in the school policy about soft drinks." Honda continued.
"Oh really?! MY teaching is bad but you doing your makeup during all of your courses is acceptable? Why Ms. Chuono, I'd call that HYPOCRISY-!"
"Ishtar-sensei, let's just go back. It's not worth it." Jonouchi grimaced.
Ms. Chuono raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Oh really? Then what did I hear from one of my own students, hm?"
"Freaking snitches…" Jonouchi made his way to his desk, practically collapsing into it. "She's totally gone off the deep end. Maybe all that makeup finally got to her brain?"
Akane frowned.
"Are you okay…?"
"Yeah… just kinda done with this. Ya try to do something for your friend and then she steps in."
"She's the worst."
"Yeah… she is."
Yugi exchanged a look with Anzu, grinning.
"That's a good way to get 'em talking." He whispered.
She giggled.
"Yeah, anyone here can get a good conversation out of just ranting about her."
"Just meet up with me after school. Keep connected via text."
"You got it." She winked. "Thanks again."
He swore his heart skipped a beat.
Goodness, she's amazing…