The Necklace Chapter 1

Kaiba took a swig from his glass of whiskey as he watched her from the corner of the ballroom. She was beautiful, even prettier than he remembered. She tugged gently on the sleeve of her date's coat to catch his attention. Her date happened to be the host of tonight's party, Jonathan Timberland. Timberland silenced her and continued his conversation. She then smiled halfheartedly and excused herself before leaving. Kaiba watched her go upstairs into a room. When he thought no one was looking, he followed her up the steps and walked right into the room like he owned the place, what he saw he wouldn't soon forget.

Anzu sat on the bed holding a breathing mask on her face. She turned her head when she heard the door open. Her eyes went wide when she saw Seto Kaiba standing before her. "What are you doing here Kaiba?" she asked nervously.

Kaiba looked at her and realized, that he didn't have an answer. So, he changed the subject and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Anzu rolled her eyes, 'he sure hasn't changed she thought to herself.' Anzu didn't say a word, instead she just nervously started to fiddle with her necklace. Kaiba looked at the necklace in shock. The necklace had the letters S&T on it. "Where did you get this?" he asked as he grabbed the golden locket and inspected it.

Anzu wasn't sure what his fascination was with her locket was, but she was glad that he changed the subject, so she answered, "Honestly, I don't know. I had it on me when I was adopted. I don't remember where it came from." She then heard footsteps and stood up. She pushed him towards the closet and said, "Hide."

As she shut the door with him inside, the fear she felt caused her to have an attack. She started to cough violently and wheeze. She quickly grabbed her oxygen mask to try to calm down. Jonathan walked in and approached her, to her surprise he smacked her across the face. She fell face first into the bed and he screamed, "How dare you embarrass me in front of all those people."

"I'm sorry Mr. Timberland, I was getting sick again. I didn't want to pass out in front of all those people," she confessed nervously.

Timberland grabbed her by the wrist and replied, "With the cost of that medicine I get you, you will serve me until your very last breath."

She nodded and he pulled her out the room.

Kaiba opened the closet door when he heard them leave. He carefully snuck back to where the party was being held. Kaiba looked for the two and saw them dancing together. He looked at the necklace on her neck and reached into his wallet. There was a photograph of a very young Seto Kaiba and a little girl. The necklace was definitely the same, and the resemblance between Anzu and the girl was uncanny. It had to be her.

Anzu looked deathly pale as she danced with Jonathan. Kaiba walked up to the pair and asked, "Mind if I cut in."

Kaiba knew that Timberland greatly depended on Kaiba Corporation's partnership, so he wouldn't refuse. Timberland gave him Anzu's hand and walked away towards the bar. Kaiba slowed the dance down and wasted no time, "What kind of contract does Timberland have you tangled in?"

"Why would you care," she asked cautiously.

Kaiba frowned and said, "How about I guess then? You are in a relationship with him in exchange for some kind of medicine or treatment that is keeping you alive. So, despite the fact that he treats you like garbage, you stay with him in order to live. Did I get it right?"

Anzu was startled and tried to back away, but Kaiba spun her into his chest and continued, "I am not here to humiliate you Anzu. I'm trying to help you." He slipped a card into her hand and said, "Come by Kaiba Corp. tomorrow, at any time. You will be brought up immediately to my office and we will discuss a way out of the Timberland contract."

She quickly hid the card in her dress and gasped when she saw blood on Kaiba's shirt. She must have coughed up blood when he spun her into him. Kaiba saw blood on the side of her lips and handed her his handkerchief. "Your lipstick smudged," he said nonchalantly, even though he knew exactly what it was. He then used his jacket to hide the stain, "See you tomorrow."

…

That night, Anzu returned to her room and quickly hid the business card into the pocket of a sweater. She climbed into bed and prayed that Jonathan would go to the office that night. Tears rolled down her face and it became hard to breathe. She slammed her fist on the bed and reached for her breathing machine in frustration. In her mind she asked herself over and over, "Should I risk going to see Kaiba, or should I stay here."

Jonathan walked through the door at that moment and grabbed her by the front of her nightgown and screamed, "What is your relationship with Seto Kaiba?"

"W…we went to high school together, that's it," she answered truthfully. Jonathan lifted her in the air and threw her against the door. Her face hit the doorknob on the way down, leaving a nasty bruise.

Finally, she concluded, 'I can't go on living like this.'

…

The next day…

Mokuba walked in the office and said, "Hey big brother, what did you call me here for today?"

Kaiba looked from the window to his brother and asked, "Do you remember Téa?" Kaiba then returned his gaze back out the window clearly looking for something.

"You mean the little girl we used to play with as kids? Of course, I remember her. Téa and her parents tried to save us from Gozaburo."

Kaiba nodded and said, "For years, I thought that Gozaburo killed her in the fire with her parents. But, I am not so sure anymore."

"Why, did you find a clue about her disappearance big brother?" Mokuba asked.

Kaiba nodded and said, "her necklace."

Finally, in the distance, he saw a girl with short brown hair approaching the building from down the road. He immediately got up from his desk and walked over to the elevator. Mokuba followed him and while they were going down, Kaiba said, "I am going to offer her a job at the manor. Give her a tour when she feels up to it."

Mokuba nodded and decided to leave, knowing that he was going to have to set up a room for her. In the back of his mind Mokuba wondered, 'Could this really be the girl?'

Kaiba reached the bottom floor and saw her walking through the front door of the office building. He approached her and saw the fresh bruise on her face. He reached up to tilt her face for a better look and frowned when she flinched. He grabbed her wrist and brought her up to the top floor. She sat on a couch in his office and he said, "Hold on a second." He came back with an ice pack and asked, "Did you bring the contract?"

She nodded and handed it to him. He looked it over. The medicine that Timberland was buying her cost $10,000 per month. He let out a breath of relief and said, "The good news, is that you can leave this contract at any time. He probably figured that you wouldn't be able to find another way to obtain the medicine, so he didn't try to solidify the contract. All you have to do is to end the relationship."

Anzu shook her head and replied, "No, he will kill me if I do that."

"Not if I am standing next to you, when you do it." Kaiba said calmly, he then continued, "I will be willing to pay for all your necessities including: medicine, food, and housing if you keep an eye on Mokuba, and help him with his school work."

"That's it?" she asked skeptically.

Kaiba nodded and said, "You can move in today."

"But, I haven't even packed," she replied.

"Is there anything that you have that is irreplaceable?" Kaiba asked.

Anzu immediately reached up to feel if her necklace was on, when she realized it was on, she shook her head no.

Kaiba smiled at her reaction and said, "Then just leave it. I will get you any clothes or other items that you need. It is not worth getting attacked. Now make a list of medical necessities that you use on a regular basis. I want to pick it up before we get back to the manor. Everything else, I will send you with either Mokuba or Roland to get tomorrow."

Anzu then looked up and asked, "Kaiba, I am not trying to sound ungrateful or anything but, how can I know that I can trust you. We haven't exactly been on good terms in the past."

Kaiba looked at the necklace and explained, "If I were to do anything to hurt you, it would hurt Mokuba, and I would never do anything to hurt Mokuba. Besides, I am not writing a contract right now, am I?"

Anzu was satisfied with his answer, so she held her hand out and said, "I accept, thank you Kaiba."

Kaiba shook her hand and looked away as he saw tears form in her eyes. He handed her a box of tissue off his desk and said, "Come on, let's go."