A/N: Hello there! Yes, I realize I start too many projects. I think I'm starting this one because I'm deleting 'This is Us' because I can't really think of anywhere to take it and any plot for it. So if you read/enjoyed that one...I may or may not post it on deviantart, so you can keep a lookout on my page if you really wanted to read it.

I wish to mention that this starts as SetoAnzu, but I plan on it becoming SetoJou by the end. Just follow me through the tedious process. It was how it worked out best. Sorry any Anzu/Tea haters...I like her enough. She's got spirit. Anyways, onwards.

Full Summary: In a bet with his girlfriend, Anzu, Kaiba crosses the line in his morals for the sake of winning the bet and proving he's right. He does this by finally succumbing to the purchase of a 'pet'; a human whose traits have been deemed unworthy in a society hellbent on conformity. But Kaiba ends up finding himself succumbing to the blond haired 'dog' in a completely different way than he ever imagined. To the point where he puts everything on the line in order to find the 'dog' when it goes stray. Begins SetoAnzu, ends SetoJou. AU.

Chapter 1.

"…we draw our own lines in the sand," Kaiba Seto finished, his eyes centered on the cell phone in his hand. He was scrolling through the contents, eyes moving faster than one could possibly think of achieving. He had something of a scowl on his face, though this wasn't an uncommon look for him to bear.

The person with whom he was speaking had crossed his legs and leaned over to speak with the woman beside him before looking back to the CEO with a puzzled look on his brow. "At least put it away after intermission."

Kaiba didn't deign the comment with a response, too immersed in his own work as he worked to piece everything together in his mind. He was a little shaken, and he looked to the stage for a millisecond before returning to his phone and making his final changes to the document and quickly sending it. He clicked a button and returned it to his jacket pocket. Unconsciously his hands floated up to his tie and fastened it just the slightest bit tighter, flattened out the collar of his dress shirt, and then tugged on the lapels of the jacket where they pulled together.

Kaiba tried to forget the man and turned his attention to the stage as the dancers came out and began the second act. He was refined enough to respect the life that his girlfriend wanted to live, but never did he take pleasure in it as much as she did.

It was maybe another hour of interpreting the piece, each little movement like its own line of dialogue. Occasionally he found it interesting, his eyes sliding across the stage with the one figure that he was most familiar with. The reason that he was there at all.

At the end of the performance he watched as his chocolate haired girlfriend left the stage. He looked down to his playbill, and in the dimmed light he looked at the list of names, finding hers quickly.

Mazaki Anzu. He tucked the playbill alongside his phone and stood up, clapping with the rest of the audience. The man was still looking at him, waiting for a moment to call the CEO rude again. Like he was a vulture picking at the man's imperfections. Kaiba knew he wasn't perfect, but all the same he wasn't going to let out his weaknesses so that the sharks could come and feed on the bleeding cuts in his person. He smirked at the man as he swept by, his full intent to head for backstage so he could speak with Anzu.

Before he left, however, he turned his attention to the man. He was older, maybe mid-fifties, early sixties with nothing to him but an expensive tailored suit and paunch around his middle. Then, for a brief moment, he looked over to the woman that was sitting beside him. She had an air about her that Kaiba felt very familiar with; something that he had lived with since he was very young. The air of the fortunate was rancid, but hard to miss.

"I understand very well that you seem to find what I do as offensive. As I said before, we draw lines in the sand and decide. Just like I have decided that it is offensive that your companion is half your age yet twice your intelligence," and he watched the man's face change as the grenade went off. After that he went and turned on his heel, walking out of the booth.

He paid no heed to those who spoke his name. He was too focused as he made his way down the main staircase to the first floor. Other people were departing behind him, the flood of men and women as they spoke gaily to one another. He kept moving swiftly, turning a few corners until he made it to a guarded back door. He produced a small card from his breast pocket. The guard nodded and moved aside.

Inside was nothing but dim orange-yellow coating everything like a foul paint. Incense and sweat were heavy. The many vanities were covered in different kinds of make-up and accessories. The women's purses were splayed out on the floor. Costumes were left haphazard on the rack, some of them hung on the prongs of the mirrors or the back of chairs.

Kaiba brought his hand to his breast pocket again. He pulled out the small rose that had been sitting there, undisturbed, all evening. He walked further into the chaos of the dancers. He didn't walk far before he was found by the chocolate haired girl, her hands grabbing his. She was high off the dance and ready to twirl him around, but was caught off guard by the rose. "Oh…Seto…"

He smiled and lowered his head. "I'm glad you like it."

Anzu was clutching it to her chest. "Very much," she said as she tucked it behind her ear. "Did you like the performance?"

"Very much," he replied. "I'm going to get someone to bring you clothes."

"But I have…"

"I'm taking you out," he said, interrupting her. A grin grew on her face. "Somewhere nice. I have something important I want to ask you."

Anzu tried to hide her excitement, but all she ended up doing was look like she was biting off her bottom lip. She lowered her head as well, the laughter bubbling up from her stomach. "Sounds wonderful Seto," she nodded. "I'll be as quick as I can."

And she got up on her toes, kissing him briefly. Sighs went through the room. Both pretended not to notice.

Seto turned away and went out the door, ridding himself of the strong smells in the room. When he got outside, he was faced with other admirers being held back by the guard. He also made note of the journalists and photographers, at least two taking pictures. It wasn't as if they weren't aware he was dating and had been dating Mazaki Anzu for some time.

Anzu stood in her place, stunned, for several moments after Kaiba had left. Her hands were cupped at her chest, and the laughter finally exploded from her.

"I think…"she turned to the crowd of her colleagues that were staring at her, waiting for her to reveal what he had said to her. "I think he's going to ask me to marry him." She said. Seven seconds of silence passed before there was a complete uproar. Her colleagues came up and congratulated her, hugging her tightly. "Now, I know he didn't say that, but what else could 'I have something important to ask you' mean? He's taking me to dinner…oh my God…"she went to her vanity, stripping out of her costume and removing the show make-up that was caked on. There was a knock on the door, a valet pressing through the crack with a small bag. Anzu went up to it, looking inside at the dress and shoes that were waiting for her. She let out a squeal and shut the door.

As Anzu slipped into the knee length dress, all black with a sputter of sequins against the shoulder, she couldn't help but think that it was about time. Two years ago she remembered him coming up to her after he had sat through a small town performance. She was happy with the Domino dance troupe; it was enough for her.

At first, she didn't get along with him. She didn't even want to see him sitting in the audience. Somewhat embarrassed, she still remembered the step she had missed (mistakes always caused a dip in her stomach) when she saw him there, arms crossed, smiling at her. No smirk; not looking like he was ready to hurl some insult. A genuine little smile, his eyes following her across the stage as she danced.

He approached her behind the stage and gave her a little flower.

She brought the rose down from behind her ear and searched the vanities until she found a safety pin and stuck it on the breast of her dress.

There was so much about Kaiba that had been revealed to her over those two years. Some of it was good, some of it was annoying. Anzu knew that Kaiba was no gem, at least as far as his outward personality went. But there was a certain goodwill that she enjoyed. Most of his affections came through actions rather than words.

There was only one thing that had almost driven her to break up with him. When she thought about that, she looked around the dressing room, and at all of her colleagues, and realized that without him she wouldn't have been standing here.

Anzu had known for a long time that dance was a very competitive world, and she was trying her best to get where she wanted to be. Going to college for it, being a part of the Domino dance troupe, practicing day and night just so she could reach the sphere that she got in not because of her talent, but because of the influence.

After six months in their relationship, Kaiba took her to lunch. It seemed like nothing new, them walking into a hotel only to have lunch at the café. When they sat down, Kaiba inquired about his "guest". Anzu immediately looked to him. "Guest?"

"Tomoya-san of the Tokyo Ballet."

Anzu nearly spit out her tea, only hiding it by pressing her napkin to her mouth. "W-why is Tomoya-san coming?" she asked, though the answer was rather clear.

"You are a talented dancer, and I've spoken to Tomoya-san on several occasions about you. She expressed interest and wished to speak to you."

Anzu was silent, and by the time that Tomoya-san finally arrived, she was ready to burst. She had angry eyes towards Kaiba, but kept her silence in front of Tomoya-san.

After Tomoya-san left, Anzu kept Kaiba at the table. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"That!" she pointed in the direction of the door. "Why did you have to do that? I could do it on my own."

"Because you weren't using your resources."

"I've been to their tryouts. It's not like I'm sitting here waiting to be picked just because I try so hard." She crossed her arms. "You would never associate with Tomoya-san anyways. She's not someone you would speak to; not even at a party."

"I danced with her," he said, which seemed just the slightest bit ironic. "Out of courtesy of course. I was making no attempts at trying to promote you," he said. But Anzu knew better. Even if he happened to mentioned Anzu, she knew there was nothing that wasn't purposeful. "When I mentioned you, she seemed interested."

Anzu didn't speak to him for a month after that, even as she was going to private tryouts for the company, being assessed in front of the members and the directors. She could just imagine his name on their lips. How much he would contribute to their company if she was a part of it. She pretended that it didn't hurt. And after a while, as she began going to their practices, long after she and Kaiba were on speaking terms again, she became comfortable with his decision. He said nothing of the strings that he pulled or the contributions towards the Tokyo Ballet. He came to the shows and supported her in her career, and that was all that he needed to do.

Anzu pulled on the end of her dress and walked out a back entrance. She took the hallways towards the main room where Kaiba would be standing, and she waited at the door just to watch him. He was staring at the large clock above the main entrance, waiting for her.

Just as she was about to walk forward, something burst through the open front doors. Kaiba took no notice. At least until he was knocked into. Kaiba side-stepped to catch himself, and he scowled as it stopped in front of the man that he had been speaking to in the booth.

Anzu came up to Kaiba, her arms around his. They both watched, Anzu grinning, Kaiba scowling. "Dogs…"he muttered, batting at his shoulder for invisible dirt.

"I think it's cute."

An usher was coming up to the man, making sure to be loud as he said: "Sir, pets are not allowed."

"Heh...she must've came in the car. I'm sorry."

"Please, take her outside," and the usher came up to Kaiba, bowing at the head. "We're terribly sorry Kaiba-sama."

Kaiba turned away, but Anzu kept him planted. "You know, I've always wanted a dog."

The CEO was less than enthralled by her statement. She hardly, if ever, mentioned that she wanted something. When she did, he almost felt obligated to get it for her because she was so reserved in her taste. But Kaiba knew why she was mentioning it. If she ever did want something, it was not in her first thought to even mention it to him. She had her own money, her own bank account. She got it herself. But when it came to a "dog" he knew that it was something he would be able to purchase without a large dent being made in his finances. Not that Anzu couldn't recoup if that was what she went about. But this was something that would end up being a joint venture if it did occur. Anzu did, after all, live with him.

"It's a disgusting practice," he said. "I will take no part in it."

Anzu looked up to him. "You have to admit, they're more obedient than regular dogs or cats."

"That's beside the point," they had begun to walk outside, the valet fetching his car. "They are not pets. They are not even animals, they are Homo sapiens. The only difference is that their parents were unlucky enough to pass down the wrong traits to them."

"With your blue eyes, you might as well be one of them," she batted his arm. He sneered. "It's a joke Seto; I'm just saying that they're more than just traits. It's been proven scientifically."

"Engineered results to please the masses," he argued. "There is nothing humane or right about any of the practice. You can endorse it all you wish; you are not dragging me into it."

"As far as the law is concerned, they are born and bred as pets for the upper class. Your business partners own them, don't they? Your own subordinates own them. Doctors, lawyers…"

"Dancers," he added. "I'm supposing Tomoya put this in your head?" he said, less then discreetly leaving off any form of respect for Anzu's director.

"What does she have to do with any of this? No, she hasn't said anything to me. I didn't even know she owned one."

"She does more than own it. She pretends to show respect for it in the daytime and at night lets her inhibitions give way."

Anzu curled her nose and climbed into the passenger seat. "You're disgusting," she said. "That's bestiality."

"It's only bestiality when it's a 'beast'," Kaiba replied sharply. His voice had slowly become more severe in the moments that they were speaking. He hardly let his opinions get the better of him, but now he couldn't help it. He tried to contain the annoyance in his voice for the sake of Anzu.

"By law, they are animals."

"They do not have fur, claws, tails, or paws. These are not the same fuzzy creatures from children's songs. Genetically these are human people who are being subjected to a life of enslavement because we've decided that they're traits are unworthy of being in our society. You do realize that we are the only country in the world that has taken to this practice?"

"That's because we…."

"Just because most of our people are a butt of a good look-a-like joke does not mean we are allowed to decide that any that do not fall into that category are allowed to be subjected to torture." He paused, looking around at the road that he was trying his hardest to pay attention to. He wanted to stare Anzu down so that she could see the kind of fire that was rising up from his stomach and licking at his eyelids it was so powerful. "Just like Adolf Hitler deciding that he wants to make the perfect Aryan race…no government body has the right to subject its people to such sanctions."

Anzu plucked the hem of her dress, a seam coming loose and showing up against her skin. "I didn't know you felt so strongly about this."

"I feel strongly about a lot of things, but I keep my opinions to myself. This, however, is something that is not only a matter of humanity, but a matter of sustainability. This may have been enacted many years ago, when we were still small, but it has had an adverse effect on Japan ever since. Our standing in the world holds little value if we look like monsters. We are not some third world country with a dictator. But our government's actions are hurting the people at the cores. Economically, we are suffering."

"Oh…now I get it," she looked over to him. "Your business is suffering because of the practice?"

"Not as badly as some are. Our stocks have plummeted over fifteen percent in the last quarter alone. Some are twice that."

Anzu kept her eyes down. "What do you plan on doing about it?" she nearly whispered. Kaiba didn't respond, but then she didn't expect him to. Business wasn't her knack, and everything he said would go in one ear and out the other. "It's not like anything's going to change. The rest of the world's in economic trouble too."

"Let's not talk about this," he finally said. He was always the one to stop a bad conversation. "This is supposed to be a good night. That was a good opening," he said. Anzu smiled.

They arrived to dinner, Kaiba walking behind her as they entered and were lead to a seat by the window, the view of the city very panoramic.

Halfway through dinner, Anzu was picking at her meal. She kept waiting for something. Looking at the wine glass expecting to see a ring inside of it. Picking through her food expecting it to be in something she ate. When she could find nothing, she supposed he was just doing this as a gesture and it was going to happen shortly.

When he set his chopsticks down and cleared his throat, she gave him her full attention. "I told you I wanted to ask you something," he said, and she could hear the nerves in his voice. "I've been considering something rather large at the moment. And it could effect this family greatly," he had, for a while, been considering Anzu a part of his 'family' though he didn't say it very often. "I'm thinking of moving us out of Japan."

Anzu went blank. Her beating heart stopped and she had to recalculate. "Moving?"

"Yes. To somewhere more…fruitful. Set up my biggest base of operations somewhere else. The U.S., Great Britain, France. Somewhere else. Somewhere I can have better control. And I wanted to ask you to go with me."

"O-oh I…I don't know I…"she laughed, though there was nothing to laugh about. It was just the nervous feeling boiling up in her. Not even nervous; maybe a little bit cheated or deceived. "That's rather drastic…I mean, I know things aren't going well but…moving?"

"If you're not okay with it, then tell me why."

"Because that's a large move. Going to some other country…"she shook her head. "And you want me to go with you? What about my…career? The Tokyo Ballet? It was hard enough to get into that. These other places?..."

"I had a feeling that was your worry. Each of these places would have an acceptable company for you to join. New York, Paris, London," he said. "All big metropolitan areas. All areas you have visited on tours, have you not?"

"I know but…"she knew there was no arguing. His influence seemed limitless. "I like Japan…"

"It's all you've ever known, but if you chose to stay, I understand."

"Would you be breaking up with me if I did?"

"I…"he lowered his head and considered the question. "I don't know."

"Seto."

"I haven't considered everything."

"Can I be selfish for a minute then?" she asked. He kept his eyes on her. "Why don't we try something? I can probably guess why you're so pro to leaving Japan. Because of the…pets. Because that's what causing the problem, right?"

"Yes."

"Why don't we just…try something? See what happens?"

"Are you trying to bargain with me?" he asked, sitting back in his seat.

"That's right. I don't want to leave Japan, and I know you wouldn't if there wasn't a problem. Why don't we just…test something? Get a dog; see what it's all about. See what the media says. Wait say three months, that's the end of the next quarter or whatever, isn't it?"

"About."

"Wait till the end of the next quarter, see what the stocks do; see what you think of owning a dog."

Kaiba contemplated it, knowing that he would be going against his principles in doing so. But all the same, he wanted to prove to Anzu that there was nothing that was right or humane with owning a dog and that there was also nothing special. And if the stocks continued their plummet, he could easily take her with him if everything was justified.

"You will promise me in writing," he said. "I will promise you that if we were to move I wouldn't break up with you no matter if you stay or come with me. And should you win your wager, we will stay and….keep the dog."

Anzu smiled. "Alright. I'll agree to that."

"Good. We'll have it written up tomorrow. I couldn't find a notary this late at night."

"You're going to pick out the dog. I'll trust your judgment."

He sneered, but said nothing. If he could choose the dog, then it would be easy to find one that was unacceptable and show her the light. "I'll also do that tomorrow."

"I'm glad you're at least trying Seto," he could hear a mix of triumph and sadness in her voice, but inquired to neither. "I hope that this hasn't spoiled anything."

"This is just business," he said, standing up. She followed his motion and coming around to take his hand. He dreaded the morning.

Kaiba had drafted up the agreement before he went to bed, and early in the morning before he and Anzu were busy a notary came, watching them sign and authorizing it. Afterwards they kissed and went on their respective days. Nothing out of the ordinary. At least, not until Kaiba found himself inside the 'pet' shop, his stomach turning at just the idea. He had his hands plunged in his pockets and his heart pounding terribly.

"They're very obedient. They can speak, but are trained not to do so. They can act as some kind of servant, or help you around the house. Help with children, keep the wife company. All sorts of things," the salesman said. "You were in interested in a…?"

"Dog-like," he said. The man led him back into a room with human sized cages, and he walked along them, staring at the unfortunate men and woman who had likely been raised like this. He saw even young children, and for a moment he imagined Mokuba in one of the cages. He was almost ready to tear out the bars and let them to their freedom, but they would considered hazardous and would be captured and put down, labeled as 'strays' just as any animal.

"Are there any traits you're looking for in particular?"

"It's a gift for my girlfriend," he said. He kept looking. Something that looked like it wouldn't be 'obedient' or 'good for the wife'. Something that would scare Anzu. Something that would convince her that she was wrong. Something that would let her see the light.

Finally, near the end of the row, he saw something that caught his eye and he smiled. It was on the second tier, and he craned his neck to see the man who had his shoulder pressed into the bars looking out at the world with a bitter, disappointed look. He scowled, his arms crossed tight. He was dirty, bruised. Like he had been beating himself against the walls of his cage.

He was blond haired, green eyed, and was nothing but a misfit type. "That one," he said, pointing up. The salesman grimaced. "Something the matter?"

"He is…has…had some trouble in the past."

"It's fine," he said. "My girlfriend said she liked the natural blond look," which was total bull but the salesman simply shrugged when hearing it. "What kind of policies do you have when it comes to having these beings?"

"Like anything, they do have a return policy. Say this one, he's been named Jounouchi Katsuya, has been troublesome, made a mess, or just doesn't really get along with your girlfriend, we have a ten day return policy from the time you purchased him. You will get a full refund; just fill out a statement as to the trouble. Nothing serious."

"What happens if he does something like….bites or hurts one of us?"

"It depends on how badly. We have several different procedures."

Kaiba nodded, and shuddered to think what those procedures were. "Alright. I'll take him."

"I hope you are satisfied," the man said. "I'll get him down for you."

Once the door was opened, Jounouchi jumped down from the cage and stumbled against the floor, gaining balance to look at Kaiba with a kind of glint in his eye. Kaiba could already foresee the trouble that was going to be caused, and he smiled at the kind of chaos he was bringing into his home. "This is for you. It's connected to the collar he's wearing," the man said, handing him what looked like a small remote. "Either you or whoever is home should keep it on you at all times. Say he's trying to escape or has done something minor that you're not okay with, there are several different things that this does. For example…he's broken something in the house," the man pressed a button and, immediately, Jounouchi fell to his knees, his hands against the collar. There was something of a squeal coming from his closed lips and clenched teeth. "Nothing to hurt him fully, but enough to definitely get the message across."

"I see," Kaiba clipped it to his belt and hid it beneath his coat. Jounouchi looked back up to him, tears stinging his eyes.

Shortly afterward, once the papers were drawn up and the price paid, Kaiba led Jounouchi to the car and ushered him in. They both sat in the backseat, the chauffeur driving on. Kaiba crossed his arms and looked at how sorry Jounouchi was, his arms hanging lamely from his knees, the skin almost sagging off the bone where he was so malnourished. Kaiba was almost saddened by the state. "Just so you know, this is not for my benefit. I'm buying you for a…bargain with my girlfriend." Jounouchi looked up. "I'll let you have your fun, and I don't mind if you scare her a little bit. Just…don't push it too far."

There was a happy glint in Jounouchi's eyes, and he smiled wickedly towards Kaiba. He nodded.

A/N: This is loooong. I know that it's long. It's for a purpose. One, I wanted to set up several things and ideas right off the bat that way they were there. Two, I wanted to be able to get to Jou, at least some, before I finished. This is an editted version...my original is well over 5,000 words, probably more...but it was a lot of unnecessary things.

I plan on all of my chapters being rather long. I don't know if it will be as long as this. It may very well be, it may fall a little under. It just depends on how far I take each chapter.

Well, until next time, KenSan out!