08 : Just When Things Were Looking Up...
By: Kokoro Kakera HP
Disclaimer: Yugiou, (Manga, anime, products, etc.), belongs to Kazuki Takahashi
Author's Notes: Also revised some sections and fixed some grammatical errors. In truth, this fanfic would probably benefit from a huge overhaul, but my main objective at the moment is to finish it, since it would be quite sad to leave it high and dry just when things are getting interesting.
Hello! It's literally been years since I last posted. I am so sorry. It's been so long, I think my writing style might have changed a bit too. I'm hoping it'll enrich the story (though there's a chance it'll also be like getting doused by a bucket of ice water in the morning)...
And I miss being an uninhibited spaz while writing. Essays require so much restraint…
* * *
Okay Anzu, slowly. I took a few deep breaths. I had a lot to think about:
1) I found one of the priests that worked for Yami when he was pharaoh! It's Kaiba!
2) I just had a vision, don't know why and don't know if it'll happen again.
3) How many people saw me while I was acting like some crazy lady about to commit suicide!?
* * *
"Uhm... Kaiba? Where... exactly is this car going?" I said, having looked out the window and noticed it didn't look like it was going anywhere near Yugi's game shop.
He gave me a weird look. "To the hospital of course."
"Oh." I choked when the word finally processed. "-Wait...what?" I mean, I know I was about to jump off a bridge, but that wasn't even me! ...Okay, it sounds crazy even to me, which sucks because it's actually true.
"You were about to jump off a bridge. That sounds like a good reason to take someone to a hospital. In my opinion, this car should be headed to a different kind of hospital, but I don't think your friends would appreciate the gesture very much."
"If only he could crawl under a rug and die..." I growled under my breath. I pasted on a fake smile - I'm sure he knew it was too; I could feel my facial muscles tremble with the exertion. "Kaiba. I'm fine. Now please turn this car around and drop me off at Yugi's house. If you don't want to give me a ride, dropping me off nearby is fine."
"Yugi can't help you with everything you know. You might as well see a doctor about that obsession along with your suicidal tendencies."
"Shut up jerk!" I snapped. "It isn't like that! I have to tell him something really important! Something that...has to do with Egypt..." I said slowly, hoping he'd get that it was one of THOSE times.
He stared at me for a full minute, before rolling his eyes and for a moment I was sure he would just ignore me and allow his driver to take the car to the hospital. Before I could fully develop a daring escape plan (this may have entailed actually opening the door and leaping from the limo, hopefully while it was at a standstill), Kaiba sighed and pressed a button located on the glass wall separating our seats from the driver's.
"Turn the car around Isona. Head for Mouto's game shop instead."
"Yes sir."
Kaiba turned from the microphone and looked at me disdainfully. That wasn't unusual, so I simply glared back. "Not that I don't realize I'll regret asking, but why were you trying to end your life Mazaki?"
"I wasn't!" I snapped. "I wasn't even... conscious."
"So you're suffering from a suicidal sleep walking disorder?" He asked in a way that made it clear he thought I was out of my mind.
I took a deep breath. Told myself killing Kaiba wasn't worth it. Reminded myself that I COULDN'T kill Kaiba because besides going to jail for the rest of my life, I would also have destroyed a clue to Yami's and my past.
Speaking of the past, I find it quite bizarre how such a nice man like the Priest Seto could have been reborn into the uptight ass that is Seto Kaiba. Well, to be fair I honestly believe he must inwardly be a nice guy and show it only to those he cares about. After all, Mokuba wouldn't be the nice kid he is if Kaiba always acted like a heartless creep.
"I'm not. It's complicated." I said flatly, and I left it at that because I needed him in a good enough mood to walk into Yugi's shop with me. Thankfully, Kaiba didn't comment on my weak retort. In fact, he was going that extra mile and not saying anything...at all. Which of course made me somewhat uncomfortable.
"How's Mokuba?" I asked out of the blue in the stifling silence.
"He's fine."
"Oh. That's good. How's the job going?"
"Does this conversation have a point to it?" Translation: Shut up, now. Or that's what his tone of voice seemed to say anyway. I guess my attempts at making small talk with him HAD been pretty lame...
Well, not talking is fine. I can bear a silence if it's preferred over conversation.
* * *
"Hey a limo!" I heard a familiar voice announce outside of the car.
"We've arrived sir." Isona's voice came in from the speaker.
"Good." Kaiba paused, looking as though he were contemplating something. Something that might have been a smile appeared on his face- I wasn't too sure from the angle and the fact that the guy beside me was the Seto Kaiba, which argued against the probability of him even having the physiological capabilities required for smiling.
Or maybe it was because a certain Jounouchi Katsuya was on the premises.
Maybe I should stop assuming things about those two... I mean true, they do expend an abnormal amount of energy on each other and argue like a married couple... but until I get some conclusive proof, I should probably keep my ideas about them to a minimum. For all I know Kaiba could be smiling because he just thought of Mokuba. Or maybe he daydreamed about finally beating Yugi in a duel. In which case, I should let him entertain his fantasies because it's never going to happen.
"Kaiba!" Jounouchi called out curiously. "What are you doing here?" As he spoke, the others walked out from the game shop to see what was happening.
Kaiba stared at him down his nose in response. Jounouchi bristled at the look and invaded Kaiba's personal space in an attempt to intimidate him. If there's one thing (out of the many things about Kaiba) Jounouchi can't stand, it's the fact that Kaiba is slightly taller than him. It's not even a huge difference, but that one centimetre is apparently just enough to make Kaiba feel all that more superior than Jounouchi. And worse, Jounouchi actually acknowledges this as a sign of superiority. Men!
Personally I don't see anything wrong with having a guy that you can look eye to eye with. It would certainly remove the threat of neck strain if I didn't have to throw my head back as I stood on my toes in order to kiss my boyfriend. I might be a little biased though. I wonder how a kiss would go down between Jounouchi and Kaiba?
"Get out of my face." Kaiba growled. Yeah, that sounds about right.
"What's your problem with me anyway?" Jounouchi asked. "Are you still bitter about the other day? Cause if you are-"
"Right now, it's your face. And I'm breathing the air you're expelling." He shoved him back. "I know dogs don't know much about personal space, but I thought you were a little better trained than that."
"Thank you for giving me a ride back here." I said, quickly stepping in between them in an attempt to diffuse the increasingly ugly situation. And what had Jounouchi meant by Kaiba being 'bitter about the other day'? I'm going to have to do a little investigation later... "It was nice of you." The two backed down from each other.
"I was heading this way already." Kaiba said. "I wasn't going out of my way."
"Anzu!" Yugi jogged to where I was standing. Yami must have gone back into the puzzle. "Where did you go?"
"I'll tell you later." I said tiredly. It would be better if he were sitting down while I told him I almost jumped off a bridge, but at the last second was prevented from becoming either windshield debris or roadkill. "Kaiba gave me a ride back though. He said he wanted to see you."
Yugi looked at Kaiba curiously. "You do?"
Kaiba seemed to look embarrassed then. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a duel monster card. I backed away cautiously "This."
"A blue eyes white dragon?" Jounouchi gasped. I sighed and relaxed. Only the female cards affected me.
Kaiba held it out to Yugi. "Considering all you've done for Mokuba...it's the least I can do. I ripped up yours. It's only fair that this goes to you." I'll say. Mokuba would be dead right now if it weren't for Yugi.
"...Woah." Yugi said, evidently speechless by the uncharacteristically gracious move on Kaiba's part. I think everyone else felt the same, judging by the way it had suddenly gone deathly silently in the room. Honda's jaw had hit the floor and he had yet to pick it up. Jounouchi on the other hand looked like he was about three seconds away from having an aneurism.
Kaiba rolled his eyes when Yugi didn't move to take the card and shoved it into my hand. "Here Mazaki, you can give it to your boyfriend when he wakes up."
I blushed and glared at him as I took the card. I refrained from retorting that Yugi wasn't my boyfriend, knowing I would just sound immature. And a little too regretful.
"Are you...sure about this?" Yugi finally spoke up, having recovered from his shock.
"Of course I am." Kaiba said coolly. "Otherwise I wouldn't have come here at all."
"Hey Kaiba, you're not a complete dick after all!" Jounouchi called out, grinning cheekily.
"Pity I can't say the same for you." Kaiba said. We all snickered as Jounouchi fumed.
"Come on you guys…" Yugi raised his arms to prevent a fight from breaking out.
I smiled a little at the sight and moved forward to help. A wave of nausea passed through me, stopping me in mid step. My eyes widened. "Oh no-" I gave a cry as my stomach suddenly gave a violent lurch. It couldn't be-
"Anzu!" I heard Yugi cry out. I shook my head and with my eyes watering, stumbled for the washrooms which would lead to a more secluded area outside. I had to get out before I completely changed, otherwise I would destroy the entire game shop.
I heard the others follow me. Someone put a hand on me shoulder and I slapped it away. "Stay back!" I snarled. I gave a cry of pain as my joints seemed to pull apart. I stumbled out through the hole in the bathroom wall I had made the day before as a harpy and sunk to my knees on the dirt. Throwing back my head I let out a roar as my body stretched and grew.
"Oh shi-"Jounouchi choked.
When the pain finally eased away, I opened my eyes. I saw blue scales and wickedly long claws where my arms and fingers should have been. I glanced at where the others had gathered. Everyone's eyes seemed to be twice the size they usually were as they looked up at me.
"I believe you now." Mai said in a small voice. Shizuka was huddled tightly beside her, squeezing her arm fearfully.
I sighed, inadvertently releasing a stream of blue fire and incinerating an innocent tree. Inwardly I winced. This was the second time I'd caused property damage to Yugi's place. At this rate I'm going to be banned from ever coming here again...
But in my defence, who would have guessed that the Blue Eyes White Dragon is a girl?
* * *
To be continued!