Awkward Romantic Breakfast (Part 3)

DIMENSION: MANGA (The One That Saves the Day)

That Night

Bakura knocked on the door of the Game Shop. He glanced around, making sure it was okay while he waited. He saw Yuugi come over to let him in. "Hi, Yuugi."

"Hi, Bakura. Come on upstairs, you can set things up at the kitchen table. Follow me." When Bakura went by, Yuugi activated the security again. "This way." They went up the stairs and Yuugi once again activated that system.

"Uh, Yuugi?" Bakura had to say. "This feels like a lot of security. Like something a bank would have."

"Yeah, probably. I won't take any risks." Yuugi smiled when he faced him. "Don't worry about it. It's safe."

Obviously. Bakura followed him around the house to the kitchen table. "Hello, Anzu." He held his prototype over his head. "This is for three players and no game master." He sat down and pulled it out. It was fairly simple, one of his own creations. Yuugi seemed disappointed last time that Anzu didn't play as well. This should be better for them.

Bakura noticed Jounouchi showed up by the door. He was there too? He must have showed up after him. "Hello, Jounouchi. Are you playing too?"

Jounouchi put his hands against his head and leaned in the middle of the walkway. "Nah, more like surveying to make sure Yuugi doesn't screw up again yet. Give it at least a night."

"Jounouchi, leave them alone. Geez." Mai came in the walkway. "We are probably going home soon."

Bakura nodded. "I'm sorry to hear about your sister's eyes. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Just make sure Yuugi and Anzu don't get along too well," Mai said suspiciously. "Don't play Mai, if you're not Mai, Anzu."

"I am not playing you." Anzu didn't seem to like that phrase.

"Mai," Jounouchi warned her. "Just 'cause they boned once don't make them us."

Boned? Bakura watched Yuugi lead Jounouchi out while Mai followed. Anzu awkwardly sat in front of him. " . . . so what is for dinner?"

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Damn it, damn it, damn it. "Jounouchi," Yuugi warned him as he went back to deactivating the security. "I can't believe you did that!"

"Mai started it," Jounouchi mentioned.

"Hey, my comment was more subtle, with a lot more class," Mai defended herself. "Like me."

Ugh, these two! Jounouchi had an extra sting tonight while he was dealing with Shizuka's lack of eyesight and not knowing exactly where he stood with Mai. It was the reason Yuugi didn't invite them to come over for too long. There was a time and place to deal with Jounouchi. Now wasn't the time. "You two aren't helping," Yuugi said. "Anzu's in an awkward spot, and I can't push." He went downstairs with them toward the entrance and started to get the main door.

"Here." Jounouchi handed something to Yuugi.

Hm? Yuugi gave it back. "I don't need protection, I'm not going to do anything again."

"Then call it insurance," Jounouchi said shoving it back in his hand. "So if you do get irrational, you can be safe, Yuugi. That's one of the main reasons you both had to backtrack to the friend zone."

"Jounouchi is right, Yuugi," Mai said. "Even now, I'm a little worried we might be going baby shopping together."

Yuugi felt the breath get knocked out of him. Really? "Once, it was just once."

"Yeah but with your history of pulling out uncommon chances right out of thin air-"

"Mai's just scaring you, Yuugi." Jounouchi gestured to her belly. "She's been putting on weight already."

"Shut up," Mai warned him.

///Yuugi: Time and a place. Don't get involved./// "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sorry though," Jounouchi apologized as he started to leave. "I'm not. Feelings coursing through me, they aren't real socially acceptable right now. Come on, Mai. Let's go home. To our home."

When they left, he activated the security again, deactivated the upstairs door, went through and reactivated again. He went toward the table. Anzu sat there awkwardly. "Anzu made burgers for supper."

"Not as fantastic as old Burger World." She seemed to want to chime right on into a decent conversation. "Not bad."

"Good. Sounds good." Bakura gestured to the game. "Sit down and I'll explain the rules to my new tabletop game."

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///Satiah: Five, five, he needs a five to win.///

"You've got this Yuugi, you just need one five." He was really close. Bakura needed a three to have a powerful enough attack, but if Yuugi rolled a five. Anzu watched his expression. When he played a game he loved, it was always the best. He could be out in the middle of nowhere, out in the middle of the cold, but if someone played him a game, he'd be just as happy.

She was more interested in seeing him win than herself. When he was in that winning moment, in that last moment while he was figuring it all out, it was picture perfect. His eyes, his mouth, his whole being seemed so happy. No matter what was going on around him. "You want me to blow on the dice for good luck?"

That expression changed slightly.

"I'd allow it," Bakura said, almost teasing them.

Yuugi held out the dice and she blew against it.

///Satiah: Anzu, you might have jinxed the game. Yuugi always wins on his own.///

///Anzu: Good point, Satiah./// "Then again, you usually have the best luck. My bad luck might have rubbed off on you."

"You're never bad luck," Yuugi said with a smile as he shook the dice. He rolled it.

Five.

"You win!" Anzu congratulated him. "Good job, Yuugi."

Bakura rolled the dice, just to see. "Two. You definitely win." He smiled at Yuugi. "It probably helps having someone rooting for you on the sideline. Has it always been that way?"

"Ever since elementary school she'd come over and Grandpa would show us neat games. We'd try and play, sometimes with him or alone. At least, for a little while."

///Anzu: Until I stopped coming over. I grew older and I wasn't playing as much.///

///Satiah: What brought you back to him, Anzu?///

///Anzu: Yuugi brought the millennium puzzle to school, showed it to me and said it was something to remember his grandfather by. After hearing that, I felt compelled to visit again, to see how he was doing. I thought his grandpa was dead but Yuugi actually just picked the puzzle up one day and said it so his too sweet of a heart could have it. Then? I wanted to hang out with Yuugi again, like I forgot why I stopped in the first place./// Anzu smiled to herself.

///Satiah: The same reasoning as before, when you first called Jounouchi. The first step is the hardest. Once you came by, you found where you wanted to be again.///

Then, Anzu noticed Yuugi and Bakura both watching her, fascinated. ///Anzu: I talked too long to you. I hate it when they look at me like that.//// "I'll go get the burgers, and you can pick up . . ." She looked at the table. "You already picked up the game. Okay, I'll go get the burgers."

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They all ate well, and had a decent time. As Bakura left and Yuugi was about to deactivate the last door downstairs, Bakura said something else. "Yuugi? I know the way Jounouchi put it, what happened seems like a bad thing," Bakura said gently. "I can't bring myself to think that it had been though. She feels . . . better. That cheering on the sidelines, it was more like her old self tonight."

"Yeah, her true spirit seemed to come back a little." Yuugi couldn't fault him for noticing that. "I followed what I believed, and so did she."

"Well you just stick it through, and I'm sure she'll be fine." He winked at him. "Maybe she'll stay here for good with you?"

Maybe. Maybe not. "I'll see ya next week, Bakura." Yuugi took care of everything, heading back upstairs. Anzu had remained seated. Was she speaking to her spirit again? He moved next to her.

She laid her hands on the table. "It just feels like if I concentrate hard enough, I can reverse that whole scene."

"You're not Mai." He knew what she was upset about. "You're Anzu." He found himself rubbing his forehead to hers slightly. ///Yuugi: This was a lot easier beforehand. When I just thought this was one-sided. Anzu cares for me too./// Okay, maybe he should be thankful for Jounouchi's contribution. ///Yuugi: I can keep it together. I can keep it at friends for now./// "Tomorrow, we won't open up, but we can go down and learn some of the business again. That? Work?" He moved away slightly and caught her eyes with his. Her not very strong eyes. Anzu.

"I should go to bed." She stood up. "It's been a really long night. Day. Week. Goodnight, Yuugi."

"Goodnight. I'll see you bright and early." Cheery. ///Yuugi: Be cheery, Yuugi.///

"You bet, first thing." She kept her happy attitude up too. "If you see Destiny come out, just open my door so she isn't driving you crazy with meowing."

"Sure. Night." ///Yuugi: I love you./// He gave her one last smile before she left the room.