Chapter Text
As an aspiring dancer, Anzu dreamed of Broadway. She would close her eyes, imagine her name in lights, and picture herself gliding effortlessly across the stage to the rapturous cheers of the audience.
Determined to make her dream become reality, she worked and studied hard, believing that qualifications, talent and a good attitude would be enough to make the dream come true.
Except, it wasn't. At each audition she would try her best to impress, but it was never quite enough. She was just one enthusiastic dancer in a sea full of enthusiastic actors and dancers, all chasing the same dreams as her. At best, Anzu would be offered a small part, dancing in the back row of the ensemble, but more often than not she was left on the unemployment line, forced to take waitressing jobs to make ends meet.
But this was only her first year of trying – some had been at it for years and still not had that big break they were all looking for.
In the meantime, she had a regular part time job in a coffee shop and was at least able to pay her rent and afford food. Plenty of others were living rough on the streets or in hostels –she counted herself lucky.
It was at the beginning of December when when she first met the handsome young man with the kind face and crazy hair.
He came into the coffee shop one morning, ordered his coffee to go and smiled at her with a light blush on his face. Like her, he was from Japan. She thought he was cute.
The next day, he came in again. This time, they exchanged pleasantries and he introduced himself as Yugi.
"You work near here?" she enquired. His attire of a white shirt, dark grey trousers, black shoes, black bomber jacket and a brown leather messenger bag suggested he worked in an office, probably.
"I work just around the corner, as a design engineer at I.2 Graphics," he told her.
Wow! It sounded like he had a very good job. "I'm Anzu," she replied, even though her name tag already gave away her name. "Same time tomorrow?" she enquired cheekily as he left with his order.
Blushing, he nodded. "Yep! See you tomorrow." He wished he had discovered this place weeks ago and got to know her sooner.
Sure enough, he came in the next day.
And the day after. And soon they were good friends.
He seemed quite shy, so Anzu was surprised when he asked if she would like to meet up with him after work?
"Yes!" she replied, all too eager.
He took her to an expensive Japanese restaurant, where they ate very nicely cooked food, and talked. He was easy on the eye, and even easier to like. Anzu was completely smitten.
She asked him what made him move to New York?
He told her that he graduated from Domino University with a degree in game design last Spring and was keen to travel and gain experience working overseas. He had applied for several graduate jobs, and had been offered a position here, at a company that designed graphics for games. He also told her he was the reigning Duel Monsters World Champion and was currently doing well on New York's lucrative pro-league dueling circuit. However, he said he did not like all the cheating that went on and was only doing it to fund his real ambition, which was to make his own game.
In turn, Anzu told him about her dream to make it big on Broadway, and how disheartening it was to keep being rejected. "But I only graduated this year, so there's plenty of time!" She was still trying to be positive, but it was hard.
He took her by the hand and looked into her eyes. "I promise I will help you make your dreams come true." She believed him, and within days, moved out of her grotty little one room apartment, with its filthy dirty window that didn't open, and into his much nicer one bedded apartment, which had French doors leading onto a balcony.
It was like they were meant to be together, and those first few months were a heady mix of love making and going on fun dates. They were young and full of dreams for their future together.
However, Broadway success still eluded Anzu and she was beginning to wonder if it was worth all the effort, tears and disappointment. When she did get work, it was poorly paid –she could earn more working as a Barista!
Luckily for her, Yugi was always there with his supportive words of encouragement. "I'm happy to support you while you chase your dreams," he would tell her. The money he was earning was enough to support them both.
And then in the Spring, he went down on one knee and proposed to her.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" she squealed, allowing him to slip the dainty gold ring with a tiny diamond mounted into it onto her finger. Was Broadway really that important when she was in love with such a wonderful man?
:
The year flew by, and the young couple started talking about getting married the following spring. But there was no hurry; Christmas would be here in a couple of months, and with renewed positivity Anzu was auditioning for shows. This was going to be her year, of that both she and Yugi were sure.
And then, six weeks before Christmas, the unthinkable happened. The company Yugi was working for closed it's New York office without warning and he was made redundant. Without his income they were up shit creek without a paddle.
But Yugi was positive as always. "Don't worry. I'll soon get another job," he told her.
"But what if you don't? I'm going to have to take extra hours at the coffee shop." He supported her all these months, and now it was her turn to support him. But it would mean her Broadway dream was on hold, unless of course she was offered the starring role in the show she had auditioned for! She was confident, since she felt the audition had gone well.
Unfortunately, yet again, all she was offered was a poorly paid minor role, which she decided to turn down.
True to his word, Yugi did get another job, as a barman. It was not something he enjoyed or felt comfortable doing, but they needed the money and it was all he could get. "It won't be for long," he said positively. "It's just until I can find something better." He was determined as always. It was one of the qualities Anzu loved about him.
But sometimes optimism just was not enough.
Christmas came and went, and the positivity they began the New Year with soon started to fade.
It seemed that life was keeping them both moving along that endless treadmill and they could not get off.
Yugi was looking locally, but no jobs were available to him in the field he was after. He could up sticks and move somewhere else, or he could go home, but he loved Anzu, and did not want to leave her.
Of course, this made Anzu feel guilty: he was such a talented and enthusiastic game designer, and it was unfair that he should have to work in a bar, for her. But, then again, her situation was unfair too!
:
Come spring, they got hitched in the New York registry office. The weather was a bit dull and drizzly. Anzu would have loved a luxurious white wedding at home in Japan underneath the beautiful blossoms of the Sakura, her family and friends all in attendance. Yugi would have liked that as well, but he was okay with the registry office if it meant they could be husband and wife.
They had a couple of Anzu's old dance school friends as witnesses and afterwards went for drinks in the bar where Yugi was working.
It was the first time she had seen Yugi drunk. One of Anzu's so called friends kept flirting with him and Yugi did nothing to discourage her. And then he disgraced himself by puking when Anzu tried to take him home. But she forgave him – what choice did she have?
Little did she know, that this was where honeymoon ended, and the real struggles began.
:
With another Christmas fast looming, Anzu continued to try and keep her dreams alive. But yet again, after several auditions, she was left out in the cold. Despondent did not even begin to touch the surface of how low she was feeling about it. Her relationship with Yugi was also starting to suffer, and she was beginning to think they should just pack their bags and go home to Japan.
It did not help that Yugi was out most nights, still working as a barman. But some nights he would stay out for most of the night, and then come home and behave as though coming in at four in the morning was quite a normal thing to do.
Suspicious he might be having an affair, she confronted him.
"What?!" He only had eyes for her, and was mortified she would think he was screwing someone else. "You think I'm cheating on you?!" He shook his head. "I'm earning us money, so that we can pay the bills!" She was shocked when he chucked several hundred dollars at her, like that was supposed to stop her complaining.
She stared at him. "Where did you get all this?"
"I've got a sharp mind and a knack for winning," he said spitefully. She wanted to hit him.
"You're gambling, Yugi! Why?!" An argument started.
"Because I'm fucking good at it! That's why?!" he snapped.
"You know how I feel about gambling!" she shouted back.
"And you know how I feel about you dancing in that club!" She might have guessed he would throw that one at her.
My how they had changed. A few months ago, Anzu would never have imagined herself dancing in a stripper club, but a fellow dancer she met when they were both rejected for an audition had told her how much she could earn in just one night!
Although short on cash, Anzu declined, but after a few too many drinks one night, decided to do it. If Yugi thought it was okay to gamble, then she thought it was okay to earn money as an erotic dancer. And she had only danced there once, hm... twice – but she told Yugi it was just the once.
But it did not really matter how many times she had danced there, because it always caused the same argument, and would end with her in tears and, depending on the time of day, him either going into the bathroom and slamming the door, or storming out to get drunk.
It seemed they were fast becoming the sort of couple that Anzu despised.
But what should they do? It was like they were trapped in this never ending cycle. They could pack up and go home if they wanted to, but despite considering it, Anzu was still too obsessed with her Broadway dream to give it up, and Yugi would not leave her here alone.
It felt like her dream was bringing them both down, but they were too dam stubborn to step off the treadmill.
:
Sighing, Anzu shoved her hands in her pockets against the winter cold, and made her way to the club. She had promised Yugi she would not dance there again, and so far had been keeping to that promise. But with Christmas looming and money tight she felt she had no choice. It was just this one last time, and if she did a really good job and impressed the punters, the tips would be enough to buy Yugi something nice for Christmas and help pay for next month's rent!
The downside was, it was degrading and she hated it.
Biting her lip, she went inside. The owner was pleased to see her. "Ah, Miss Peaches." She had told him her name was Peach, since that was how her name translated. And so Peaches was the name she was advertised as. The punters loved Peaches.
Making her way to the changing room, Anzu said, "Hi," to the other girls.
Not many of the girls enjoyed erotic dancing, but they were still dancers and tried to go about each performance with the same professionalism they would if they were dancing in a hit Broadway musical.
But a hit Broadway show this wasn't, and Anzu felt dirty as she changed into her costume, which was a tiny silver lace bikini top with peach coloured tassels on the nipples, a thong that covered nothing, and a pair of peach coloured calf length high heeled boots. Good for stomping on punters groping hands, but she would not get paid if she did that.
She joined some of the girls in the warm up area backstage, and began to limber up.
The sooner tonight was over, the sooner she could get home –hopefully before Yugi came home and worked out where she had been.
Resigned to her fate, Anzu and four other girls steeled themselves, did a group hug for encouragement and danced onto the stage to the rapturous (lecherous) cheers from the mostly male audience.
:
Yugi had always been good at winning games, but not many people knew just how good he was at playing poker. His grandfather had been known as the Legendary Gambler in his heyday, and had taught Yugi all he knew about playing card games from a young age. Little Yugi had soaked up everything his grandfather taught him, and was probably an even better card player than his grandfather used to be.
However, Anzu did not like him gambling. After their last argument he had promised to stop, providing she never danced in the strip club again. He had not stopped, and was now having to lie to her about where he was and how much money he was making.
In the months since he had been playing poker his bank balance had grown handsomely, but Anzu had no idea by just how much. He had made over one hundred thousand dollars, but was sensible enough to have invested most of it with the intention of buying them a nice house in which to live and raise a family.
However, that was in the future, tonight he had been invited to join a game at a club he had not been to before. He probably should have said 'no' but the wager for joining offered a huge prize pot to whoever won. And he was pretty sure it would be he who triumphed.
He always played under the alias of Yami, and it was by that name he was known to the poker playing community as. He had garnered quite a reputation for winning, and some players now refused to go up against him. However, the man running this club was happy for him to join their table, and welcomed him like he was an old friend.
Despite the alarm bells ringing in his head, Yugi sat down and began to play. The game was intense, and in the end just Yugi and one other man remained. Confident of winning, Yugi was thriving on the tension. He held his nerve, and it was the other man who called it and laid down his cards. As soon as Yugi saw the man's hand, a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. He laid out his own cards and smirked broadly as he took the prize money.
The other man's face was like thunder.
That was the moment when Yugi's luck ran out.
It turned out that the man was a Mafia bosses' son, and his father ran the club. They certainly did not like the way this cocky little Japanese fella had just made them all look like amateur gamers.
They stripped him of his $80,000 winnings, beat him up, bound and gagged him, and dumped him a dumpster behind a grocery store, that was waiting to be picked up by the early morning bin collectors, expecting him to be crushed to death by the bin lorry's grinding machinery.
It would have been a very nasty way to go, if he had not been found by a couple of skip divers looking for free food they could make use of. They had been very surprised when the trash started wriggling and making panicked muffled noises.
Yugi woke up later that day in hospital, with a few cuts and some nasty bruises.
Anzu was going to be mad at him when she found out.
:
Returning home from the stripper club at well past midnight, Anzu was not surprised to find Yugi wasn't home –she was resigned to him being out for most of the night now. He always told her he was working behind the bar in the nightclub. She pretended to believe him to save any further arguments, but was not stupid and knew what he was still gambling.
Besides, she had promised not to dance in the strip club again, so best just try and ignore what Yugi was doing and carry on with her own life.
She cleaned off the make-up, brushed her teeth and showered, before making herself a mug of camomile tea and then going to bed. It was three in the morning. Yugi often did not get in until it was getting light, so she wasn't overly concerned.
However, when she woke up again at eight in the morning needing a wee, she grew very worried when she saw he was not in bed next to her. He was not asleep on the couch, either.
She grabbed her phone to check for messages, but there were none.
She tried ringing him, but it went to voicemail.
Now she was very worried. Had something happened to him? Frantic, she did not know what to do.
She tried ringing the bar where he worked, but got an answerphone.
The manager rang her back a couple of hours later to say Yugi was not working there last night.
He had lied to her. How could he?! She was furious.
She rang the police to report her husband missing, and was told he would not be considered missing until after twenty four hours had elapsed. She wanted to scream at the officer, but held her tongue.
"Well, has anyone by the name of Yugi Muto been involved in any, I dunno, trouble?" Arrested for drunk and disorderly sprang to mind. "He's Japanese, about five foot five and has crazy, spiky hair with blonde streaks at the front."
"Let me check."
A few minutes later, the colour drained from her face when she was told that a man matching that description had been found beaten up and had been taken to hospital. Police were currently at the hospital waiting to interview him.
Thanking him, Anzu rushed to the hospital, where she found Yugi sitting up in bed feeling sorry for himself, nursing some nasty bruising on his face and a cut under his left eyebrow.
He looked ashamed when she approached.
But her anger was long gone, and was now replaced by concern. "Yugi! What happened?" she said, rushing to sit on the edge of the bed and gently touching his arm. He moved a bit stiffly and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"It's okay," she responded softly.
"No. It's not. I'm an idiot. I nearly got myself killed." He sniffed and his eyes welled with tears.
"Who did this to you?" She had to ask.
"Mafia," he said in a hushed voice. "They didn't like me winning the prize pot, so they beat me up and stole it back."
"Geez, Yugi," she said, sighing and rubbing her hand over her face. "You're lucky they didn't break every bone in your body and chuck you in the harbour."
"They tied me up and put me in a dumpster waiting to be collected. I think they wanted me alive enough to know how it feels to be crushed to death by the grinder," he said mirthlessly. Feeling sick at the thought, Anzu gasped and covered her mouth.
"How did you get out?"
"Some skip divers found me."
A sad silence hung in the air for a moment, before Anzu sighed, and said miserably, "How have we come to this?"
"To what?" he replied, feigning ignorance.
"We used to be so happy, bright and optimistic. When did we start lying to each other and doing things we never thought we'd do?"
He shrugged, and winced when the bruising on his shoulder caused him some discomfort. "I don't know."
Anzu sighed sadly. She should confess to performing in the club again last night, but could not bring herself to do so.
"Do I make you unhappy, Anzu?" he asked, sensing her sadness.
"No. It's not you," she replied, shaking her head. "It's everything else; what we've become. And I think most if it's my fault for keeping you here, doing a job you don't like, just to indulge my dream."
"No!" he said, astonished by her confession, "Don't blame yourself! I'm here because I love you! And things will be better again, I just know it. You will get to star on Broadway. And I'll find….." He was going to say more, but Anzu's face was grave. "Anzu?"
She did not think things would get better, but did not voice it. "Please promise me you'll stop gambling?" she said instead.
He gave her a rueful smile. "No more gambling. Not after this." He gestured at himself.
"Will your insurance cover it?" she asked. "I take it you do have medical insurance?" It would leave them in debt if he didn't. Much to her relief, he nodded.
"Yeah. I took it out before leaving Japan. I couldn't get a work permit without it."
"That's a relief. When do you think they'll let you go home?"
"I'm gonna discharge myself today," he said with certainty.
"Is that wise?" He looked in pretty bad shape.
"I'd rather be resting at home," he said. She could not disagree with that.
The police came to interview him before he left the hospital. He recounted what had happened, and they told him they would be unable to charge anyone and would be closing the case. Yugi understood: the Mafia were like the Yakuza and were untouchable.
After signing the insurance and the hospital discharge forms, Yugi went home, wearing the borrowed hospital charity clothing since his were beyond salvageable after the medics cut them off – they were covered in garbage anyway.
The first thing he did do when he did get home was have a nice hot bath, which Anzu ran for him. She gasped when she saw the bruising on his body where he had curled into a ball on the floor while they kicked him. "It's not as bad as it looks," he lied, trying to downplay how much discomfort he was in, but he did have to admit the bruising looked horrible.
Anzu remained in the bathroom with him because she wanted to help him wash. "Be careful washing my hair," he told her. "I think there's a cut in my scalp, somewhere."
"I'll be gentle," she said, tenderly rinsing out the dried blood, which, given how thick his hair is, was a task in itself.
Yugi spent the rest of the day resting on the sofa. He had been through a terrible ordeal and Anzu was worried about his state of mind. He tended to downplay his own feelings, by putting on a brave face and pretending he was fine, but Anzu knew he was unhappy. It was unfair that he should have to suffer like this to keep a roof over their heads, and she feared that this might finally break him.
And then what would they do?
She was not ready to give up on her dream and go home, but if Yugi decided it was time for him to go home, then she would have a big decision to make.
One that she did not know if she was ready to make.
:
The following day, while Anzu was working a shift in the coffee shop, Yugi decided to apply for a job.
He knew Kaiba Corp. were recruiting and had been considering sending them his CV, but was refraining because his priority was, and always will be, to support Anzu. After after what happened the other night, however, he realised that he had to stop putting himself second. Working in a bar was only ever supposed to have been temporary, yet he had been doing it for almost a year and it was making him miserable.
Whatever had happened to all his hopes and dreams, to design and market his own game? The sketches and ideas he had been jotting down since he was eighteen, were stuffed into a folder, collecting dust at the back of the wardrobe. He was now twenty four, and if he did not do something to get his career back on track, it would soon be too late.
He dearly loved Anzu, and wanted their future to be as a couple. But it was time to put his own ambitions first, for once, and if returning home to Japan was necessary for him to finally be a successful game designer, then that was what he would do.
:
The Christmas parties were now all in full swing and the bars and clubs were very busy. Anzu was working extra hours in the coffee shop, and Yugi was working longer hours in the bar.
It had been nearly four weeks since Yugi had e-mailed his CV to Kaiba Corp. and he had still not heard anything; not even confirmation that they had received his application.
He was starting to lose hope, and even though it was almost Christmas he was miserable and depressed.
It did not help that tonight the bar was full of rowdy people for an office party and he was working until two in the morning. Quite a few of the customers were very drunk, and the toilets had been decorated with vomit, which some poor bastard had to clean up. Yugi was glad it was not he who drew the short straw.
By the time they got everyone out and locked up, it was gone two in the morning.
The staff were all weary, and the club manager agreed to pay for them to take taxis' home, but the cheeky bastard then took it out of their tips! His colleagues complained, but Yugi was past caring; it was a cold night and he was exhausted and just wanted his bed.
Creeping into his apartment, he undressed and slipped into his pyjamas. He then tiptoed to the bathroom to brush his teeth, before finally climbing into bed.
Anzu was curled on her side facing away from him and was breathing softly. She looked so cosy and warm.
Warm…. Unable to resist, he snuggled closer, hoping to rid himself of the chill he felt from being tired, and from being out in the cold night air. Indeed, she did feel warm. He gently kissed her neck at the juncture of her shoulder. Her skin was soft, and held the slight scent of strawberry and vanilla from her body lotion.
He slipped an arm around her waist and promptly received an elbow in the chest. "Eep!" she squeaked, startled awake.
He recoiled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"You're freezing!" she complained. "Your hands are like ice!" He had not thought they were that cold! She groaned and yawned. "What time is it, anyway?"
"Getting on for three. I've had…."
"Please, just let me sleep. I'm not having sex with you at three AM," she mumbled, settling back down.
Yugi was upset. He was not even thinking of asking for sex. He just wanted to feel warm and close to her. "I wasn't trying to have sex with you." he grumbled. "I've had a shit night, okay?" Huffing, he turned over to face away from her. He was close to tears, which was embarrassing.
Sighing, Anzu shuffled over to cuddle him from behind. "Yugi! What's wrong?" He had not been his usual cheery, positive self for a while.
Sniffing, he shrugged. "Nothing. I'm tired."
"No! You're upset. Is it me?" she pleaded, concerned about him.
"…."
"I wish you would talk to me, Yugi." She sighed shakily and settled back down, close enough to him that he could feel her breath on his neck.
Biting his lip, he lay there for a moment, before mumbling gruffly "I can't do this any more."
Anzu propped herself up in her elbow and leaned over him. "Yugi?" He rolled onto his back to look up at her.
"Working in a bar: it's killing me. I don't want to do it any more."
"Is it the reason you've been drinking a lot lately?" He did not answer her. Slightly irritated, she snuggled back down. "I think we're both tired. Let's discuss it in the morning. I'm sure you won't be feeling quite as bad after some sleep."
Yugi resisted the urge to snarl, and instead clenched his jaw. What right did she have to tell him how he should feel? He was a game designer, not a barman. And he had every right to have the odd drink if he wanted. It cheered him up when he was feeling down. And it wasn't like he drank every day, or was dependent on alcohol – he had not drunk a single drop tonight! So, why did she even bring it up?
He fell into an uneasy sleep, and his mood had not improved much when Anzu woke him up at ten thirty in the morning. He made a muffled, grumpy sound and pulled the covers over his head.
"I've made a nice breakfast," she said in a conciliatory tone. He peeked out to see her offering him a tender smile, and he relented.
"Okay. Won't be a minute." He slid out of bed and padded to the bathroom. When he had finished in the bathroom, he padded into the kitchen, to find her making pancakes with fresh blueberries, honey and yoghurt. She was wearing her pink fleecy dressing gown, her chestnut hair was loose and she looked beautiful as always. It brought a smile to his face, and for a moment he forgot how depressed he was.
Sensing him standing in the doorway, she looked up and smiled. "Hey! How are you feeling this morning?"
Now was his chance to tell her he had had enough of New York and wanted to go home. "I'm okay."
"Are you sure? I wish you would tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," he said, shrugging. "I just don't want to work in a bar. I'm going to look for something else."
She smiled sympathetically. "These are almost ready. Why don't you pour the tea and then come and sit down?"
He did as she asked, but wondered if she was even listening to him.
"I'm off today!" she said, as she dished up the pancakes. "We should do something together." They had not done anything together recently. "Perhaps we could go and see the Christmas decorations in Time Square?"
"Yeah, okay. Whatever you want." He had not meant to sound so apathetic.
Sighing, she looked at him sadly. "It's not just the bar work, is it?" she said nervously. "If it's me, just tell me; I'm not so sensitive that I can't take a few home truths! It might even do me good to hear them!"
He looked up at her. She was right, they had to talk –he had to talk. "I'm sorry if I seem.. off lately. I.. I feel like I'm in a rut. We've been so busy chasing your dreams, that I've lost sight of my own. I need to get my career back on track, before I get too old."
"You're only twenty four. You've got plenty of time!" she said,
Yugi felt like banging his fist on the table to assert himself, but instead poked at his pancake. "No! I haven't got time," he said firmly. "The longer I'm out of the gaming industry, the less chance I have of getting back in." He swallowed down the lump in his throat. "Thing is, I don't think I'm going to ever get anywhere if I confine myself to New York. I've applied for a position at Kaiba Corp. I haven't heard back yet, but if they offer it to me, I really want to accept it. You know what that means, don't you?" He noticed that she looked a little shaken.
"Yes." She had feared this day might come, but it still felt like the world had been pulled from underneath her. "You're going to leave me and go back to Japan," she said shakily.
"No!" He reached across and touched her hand. "That's not what I said. I want us to go together."
Anzu nodded in slow motion. "I don't know if I can go. What about my dream?"
He wanted to tell her to stop obsessing about Broadway, but instead squeezed her hand. "They have theatres at home, you know?"
"I know," she said quietly.
He snorted. "It doesn't matter. They haven't even acknowledged my application anyway."
Anzu brightened. "Don't give up!" she said encouragingly. "They're a huge company. They've probably got hundreds of applicants to sift through."
"Way to make me feel like I have a chance," he said, sighing.
"No news is good news!" she said. "They're probably going through all the applications and rejecting the useless ones first."
"Maybe. But the idea they don't want me and I'll be stuck working in a bar forever frightens me," he admitted. "But what frightens me more, is you and I splitting up because you won't move home with me."
Anzu took a breath. "I…see. I suppose we would have to weigh up all the options. But until it comes to it, I don't want to think about it."
"Hm…" He took a bite of his pancake. If it came to it, he had a horrible feeling she would stay here and their relationship would end.
They both avoided talking about it after that.
:
Christmas eve arrived. Their third together.
Yugi was working behind the bar from midday until six. The bar had been packed all afternoon with office workers knocking off early to begin their Christmas celebrations. They had been drinking like fish and some were already drunk – Yugi was really glad he did not have to work the late shift.
Anzu was also working and had arranged to meet him when he finished work.
Some of the customers offered to buy him a drink, but since he was not allowed to drink while working, Yugi added the funds into his kitty for when his shift ended. There was now enough in the kitty for a few drinks!
He spotted Anzu coming into the bar and waved to her. She waved back and found some space at the end of the bar to wait for him.
Ignoring customers at the bar waving their money to attract the attention of one of the bar staff, he came over to speak to her.
"Hey! How was your shift?" he asked. She was looking a bit frazzled.
"Busy. Yours?" She could tell he had been at it non-stop just by looking at him.
He gestured at the packed bar. "Crazy."
She nodded in acknowledgement. "What do you want to do tonight?" She half expected him to say 'go home and sleep', but he didn't. Instead, he grinned.
"Customers have been buying me drinks. But since I can't drink when I'm working, I put put the money aside so we can have a few drinks here, if you like?"
Anzu looked around at all the people laughing and enjoying themselves. She was stone cold sober and could use some of their merriment. A drink or three sounded like a good way to get into the Christmas spirit. "Okay!"
"What would you like?"
"I'll have a white wine spritzer." She would not get drunk too quickly if it was watered down a bit.
Nodding, he made her drink, and made himself a Jack Daniels and coke, using some of his kitty to pay for it. "Wait here, and guard my drink," he said, winking. "Another five minutes and then I can clock off." He left her and went to serve another customer.
As soon as six arrived, he made his way to the staff room and clocked off. He changed out of his black polo shirt with the bar logo printed across it, and into a clean lilac shirt, checked his phone for messages, and then went out to join her in the bar.
"My feet ache. Is there anywhere we can sit?" she asked as he kissed her cheek. She had been on her feet for much of the day. Yugi had too, so he also would not mind sitting down.
They scanned the bar. A lot of people were standing in groups, so they were lucky enough to find a couple of vacant seats.
It did not take them long to finish their first drink, and Yugi was keen to get another.
"Are you sure? How much money is in the kitty?"
"Enough," he said.
"Enough for some sparkling wine?"
Grinning, he nodded and went up to get a bottle of bubbly and two glasses.
Once it was poured, he held up his glass. "Merry Christmas, my love!" he said with a wink.
"Prey God it's our last!" she said, smirking.
"Hey! Don't be like that!" he said, pouting.
"I'm teasing. Can you hear it? They're playing that song by the Pogues and Kirsty McColl, and I was repeating some of the lyrics."
"Oh!" He laughed. "You're right. I'm not a scumbag though, am I?"
"No." She giggled. "Or a maggot."
"That's good then. At least we're not like the characters in the song!"
"God! I hope not, anyway. I think they're a pair of drunks," Anzu said, proud that she did not drink….unless it was for a special occasion, such as Christmas.
They enjoyed drinking their bubbly, and were disappointed when the bottle was empty. "There's still some money in the kitty, if you want another drink?" said Yugi. He was beginning to get into the Christmas Spirit now. Anzu shook her head.
"We should pace ourselves. I'll just have a diet coke, with ice and a slice of lemon."
He went up to the bar and came back with two drinks. She thanked him and took a sip of her coke. "Have you got coke as well?" she asked, hoping that was all it was.
"Yep!" he lied. She frowned at him so he grinned sheepishly. "It has Jack Daniels in it." He failed to mention it was a double.
"Please don't get drunk Yugi."
"I won't," he said, reaching across and running his hand up her thigh, having already started losing his inhibitions.
"Stop it!" she said, pushing his hand away.
"No one's looking! They're all too drunk!" he said, grinning. "Besides…" he gestured towards the corner where a couple were snogging and groping each other.
Anzu screwed her nose up. "Ugh!"
With the kitty used up, they left the bar and went out into the cold night. It had the effect of making them both feel a little more tipsy, especially Yugi.
Giggling, Anzu grabbed his hand, and dragged him towards the mall. Yugi was also giggly and wishing everyone they passed a Merry Christmas.
"Yugi! What was in those drinks you had?" He had really come out of his shell.
He beamed at her with glassy eyes and a flushed face. "Nothing!" She rolled her eyes.
"We had better not drink any more alcohol. I'll treat us to hot chocolates when we get to the mall."
Reaching the entrance to the mall, Anzu bought them paper cups filled with rather sickly, powdery hot chocolate, but they drank it anyway.
They then stood with the crowd listened to the brass band playing Christmas Carols.
A local charity was taking donations and handing out mince pies. Yugi put ten dollars in the tin and they took a mince pie each.
"Do you want to go home after this?" she said.
"It's only ten o'clock. Shall we get a hot dog first?!" The alcohol had given him a serious case of the munchies.
"Yes! Let's get a hot dog!" She grabbed his arm and dragged him towards a vendor.
They had not even reached the hot dog seller, when the band stopped playing and a scuffle broke out.
Anzu gasped. "What's going on?!" At the back of the crowd, they could not see that a member of the band was trying to steal the collection boxes from the charity workers.
Within moments, security and nearby police officers were charging in to arrest people.
It was at that moment, Yugi had what his inebriated mind thought was a brilliant idea.
A shot was fired, and it immediately sobered Anzu up. "We should go!" She turned to grab his hand, but Yugi was not next to her. "Yugi?!" she yelled. It was chaotic, with people hurrying towards the exit. And then she spotted her husband, half way up one of the giant Christmas trees.
"Yugi! What the fuck are you doing?" she yelled, running over to him. Despite her irritation, she could not help but giggle.
Pulling some tinsel from the tree, Yugi wrapped it around his head and shoulders. "Wooee! Anzu?" he shouted, waving down at her.
As he climbed higher, the tree branches were thinner and the tree was swaying a little, but Yugi did not seem to notice the shower of pine needles raining down on amused onlookers –they seemed to have forgotten about the attempted robbery.
Luckily, the robbery had now been thwarted and the culprit was being marched away into a nearby police van. The cops were now free to turn their attention to the idiot up the tree.
Anzu's giggles turned to concern, when a cop appeared by her side and shouted at Yugi to get down immediately.
Appearing not to hear the order, Yugi grinned and waved down at his audience. "Merry Christmas everyone!" he shouted and laughed.
The cop was now at the base of the tree and had his gun drawn and pointed up at Yugi. "Get down from the tree, now!" he ordered.
Grinning, Yugi waved. "Merry Christmas Mister Policeman!"
Terrified, Anzu gasped. "Please! Don't shoot him, Sir!" she said to the officer. "He's my husband, Yugi. He's had a few drinks and…he's harmless."
Thankfully, the officer looked at her and then sheathed his gun. "Yugi, you say?" He turned back to look up at the spectacle, and hollered, "Get down from the tree, Yugi!"
"Yugi! Do as he says," pleaded Anzu. Yugi shifted his position, and thankfully looked like he was about to obey.
But as he moved, the flimsy branch he was clinging to broke and shiny plastic baubles and pieces of Norwegian Spruce rained down on Anzu and the officer. The string of heavy duty fairy lights dislodged and the tree rustled as more bits and pieces fell.
Yugi was now slipping ungracefully down the tree, pulling chunks of pine needles with him as he fell.
Anzu suddenly had the terrifying thought of the electric cable breaking and Yugi being electrocuted.
The officer stepped forward to grab Yugi before he landed, but Yugi was unable to hold on and fell onto the policeman, sending them both to the floor in an undignified heap.
Apologising, Yugi sat up, his hair full of pine needles and tinsel wrapped around his shoulders. Thinking it funny, he was laughing. Anzu was on her knees, along with others, to check the officer and Yugi were unharmed.
"That was fun!" Yugi said, still giggling despite the near miss.
Anzu was exasperated. "Fun?! You could have been electrocuted, you idiot!"
The officer had picked himself up and brushed off the pine needles. He was not amused and the smile was wiped off Yugi's face when he was grabbed roughly and handcuffed.
"You're under arrest, for being drunk and disorderly, vandalism and assaulting a police officer."
Yugi did not seem to understand, or if he did, was feigning ignorance. He seemed to have forgotten what English he knew and started talking in Japanese. "But it's Christmas! I'm enjoying myself! Anzu, tell him? I'm not trying to hurt anyone!"
"That's not the point," she replied in Japanese. "What you did is stupid." She turned to the officer and spoke in English. "Sorry. He doesn't speak much English," she said, which might have been true three years ago.
"Please, don't arrest me," Yugi complained, in English this time, trying to wriggle free and not doing his cause any good.
Not wanting to spoil the spirit of Christmas, the carol singers were starting to sing carols in the background, the sound filling the mall and restoring calm after the would be robber almost ruined Christmas.
Yugi started trying to sing along with them, but did not know the words or tune, while Anzu tried to plead with the officer to let him go.
"Think of the paperwork?" she said. "I promise he won't get up to any more mischief. I'll take him home."
Another officer came over, to see what was going on. He appeared to be a sergeant.
"Let him go home," the sergeant said. "The drunk tank is already full."
"But, Serge?"
"No buts! It's Christmas."
Yugi grinned at the officer as he removed his cuffs. "Thanks! You won't regret it! Merry Christmas." He threw his arms around the officer and kissed his cheek. Behind him, Anzu cringed, expecting him to be re-arrested. But the officer reluctantly patted Yugi on the back and then pushed him away.
"I suggest you get outta my sight, before I change my mind."
"Yessir!" Yugi was still beaming and waving as Anzu dragged him away.
"What on earth's wrong with you tonight?"
He let go of her hand and threw a clumsy arm around her. Worse for drink and his tree climbing escapades, he was feeling a bit unsteady on his feet and needed her for support. "I'm eversoslightly drunk," he said, nuzzling her neck.
"Completely drunk," she corrected, sliding her arm around his waist. "Let's get you home."
Nearby, they heard the church bells ringing, hailing the start of Midnight Mass.
Yugi stopped to listen.
"It's Christmas Day," said Anzu.
"It is. Happy Christmas," he said, turning to face her and pulling her close to kiss her.
Anzu giggled and pushed her hands against his chest to break the kiss. "You've got pine needles and tinsel in your hair. You look ridiculous." She reached up to ruffle his hair and shake some of them loose.
"You look beautiful," he told her.
She smiled and traced her fingers from his hair to his face. He had small raised blotches on his face from irritation caused by the pine needles. "What am I gonna do with you?" He opened his mouth to speak, but she silenced him with a kiss.
He smiled into the kiss, devouring her mouth drunkenly under the streetlamp where they stood.
In the background, the church bells were still ringing out, welcoming in the start of Christmas Day.
Too wrapped up in Anzu, Yugi barely noticed his phone vibrating in his back pocket, indicating that he had a phone call.
He missed the call.