Hikaru: Thank you very much Hikaru! You are soo energetic and I love your feedback. I would hit Atem on the head too if he ever lost the cartouche Anzu gave him in the manga and in the anime. But I'm sure he'll be good. I'm warning you that this chapter is going to have some interaction between Anzu and Seto so Atem you can watch and brood in a corner and see what you're missing...for now.Glares menacingly at Atem Thanx again Hikaru!
Random Person: Thank you! It's funny that you asked what happened to Yami Bakura because he happens to be in the story. He will be in the story but if I told you when or how, I'd be giving too much away. -
Una1: Excuse my tardiness in updating! I'm glad you think I kept Pegasus in character, I was trying for that. The story will go slow for this chapter and for half of the next one. The other half of chapter 4 will be pure action. You'll be seeing Yugi's reaction in chapter 4 so hang in there; it's a kick in the teeth for all and a big headache for some newcomers. (And yes, poor Miho. She is indeed out of the loop) Hope you enjoy this chapter.
norestar-angel: Thank you very much ''blushes madly'' I'm touched that you love it.
Kyo Terayashi: Thank you very very very much.
Black-wings91: She is confused but we'll see whether or not she can pull herself together. Thank you for liking my fic!
Egyptian Rose: Thank you very much. I liked the messages too. I think it shows that their all still very close and keep in touch despite distance. I can't believe it sounds like you and your friends. It sounds like you guys are really close. I went to go check your profile and I totally understand. I can wait; your story is too awesome to not wait for! -!
A/N: Alright! Please forgive me for my tardiness in updating this story. I was away and I lost this chapter due to computer failure, so please forgive me. In light of this, I shall post the fourth chapter within the week and it will definitely have the rest of the gang plus we'll get to see what the enemy is planning. This chappy will have three or four cast members but who could they be...read to find out!!!
Third Chapter:
As I wiped the smoky film from my bathroom mirror, I took a good look at my face. My skin was ashen, my hair was limp and damp from my shower. I had bags under my weary eyes from the lack of sleep over the past two days! To sum it up nicely into three simple words; I looked dreadful. Jou would have a fit at my next check-up if he found out I wasn't sleeping well. I was a total wreck.
I hadn't gotten any sleep last night. How could I when I had just found the cartouche that I had given Atem. He had promised to keep it well and I knew he was a man of his word. The only way that this could have left his possession is if something had happened to him. But he was in the afterlife, what evil could reach him in the domain of Osiris?
I walked out of my bathroom, placing my towel on a rack on my way. I sat heavily on my bed and laid down spread eagle starring at my ceiling. 'I have to do something...I should tell the others. But if it ends up being a lie, the others would be crushed especially Yugi and Jou. But I can't keep this to myself...I have to at least tell someone.
'The person I'm going to tell has to be level headed and partially impassive but whom?' I asked myself as I turned over on my stomach and laid my face in my pillow. Then my head shot up a few moments later.
-That's it! I know exactly who it's going to be, I yelled as I jumped out of bed, grabbed my cell and dialled a number as I ran to my closet to get dressed.
-
Here I was, in the back of a partially deserted Starbucks café, at 4:00 in the afternoon. I had been sitting across my two coffee buddies for almost 2 hours as I tried to explain everything that had occurred to me during the past two days.
-Then, I waited for the elevator doors to open and he was gone! I said as I took this opportunity to open my eyes to gage their expression. One was giving me the wide eyed 'whoa' look. The other...was giving me his classic do-you-expect-me-to-believe-you look.
-Well Anzu, I think you should go tell the others, said the one who had given me the amazed look as he stood up and was about to place money down for his de-caff chocolate latte when I stopped him with my own hand.
-Don't worry, yours is on me kiddo. Your brothers buying for me anyways, I said smilingg at his older brother who gave me an icy glare and nothing more.
-Thanks! Anyways, they'd want to know. And even if it is a trick, there are too many coincidences to ignore it Anzu. I'm sorry that I can't stay longer for you to finish your story but I gotta go; Becca and I have a date tonight, he said blushing.
-No problem Mokie, thank you for your advice. Just be safe out there, I said in my motherly way as I pulled at his long pony tail. Mokuba had kept his long and messy hair style no matter how many times we told him to chop it off. He wouldn't even consider chopping half inch. He didn't get what our problem was until he started getting mistaken for a girl by classmates and sometimes by us in the streets. He had compromised to wearing it in a pony tail situated at the nape of his neck to appease us and save himself from further embarrassment in public.
-Yes mother, he drawled at me. I stuck my tongue out at him as he hugged his brother who took a moment to return the gesture. Mokuba has always been one to show his emotions in contrast to his older sibling.
-Bye big bro, I'll be home at...uh...well I don't really know, he said as he scratched the back of his head laughing nervously.
-Mokuba, his brother said seriously as he looked pointedly at him, where are you two going?
-Alright...we're going to a concert. Okui Masami is performing and Becca wanted to go so I got us tickets. It's about 6:14 right now and the concert starts at 7:00-ish so I'll call kay? Don't fight too much you two! Mokuba said smiling mischievously and rushing out of the Starbucks.
-Bye Mokuba, we both said as he left our line of sight. Silence followed Mokuba's departure. I turned away from the exit Mokuba had left through and looked at his brother who fixed his icy gaze towards me.
Seto Kaiba hadn't changed much since I last saw him which must have been a couple of months ago at Shizuka's engagement party. He was still the handsome devil he has always been if you saw past his irritating disposition. His chocolate locks fell on his eyes giving him that mysterious and serious look that drove women wild. Instead of always keeping it tidy and neat like he used to in high school, he wore it slightly messy which suited him, adding to his rebellious look. His features had matured over the years and he was no longer skinny but lean and powerfully built. Not to the max but enough to see he did work out. His jaw line was more accentuated and his eyes...they still held their dark cobalt color that lured you into their mysterious depths with a narrowed appearance but it now held less hate and anger towards people. It didn't mean he was soft, because he was still the same arrogant I-own-the-universe Seto but he had made some changes in his life that had improved him both inside and outside. One could say Seto had made peace with his past. He has all of us as friends now and he had had me as a girlfriend so I guess that would change a guy of Seto's calibre.
-Alright. Mokuba's gone now, you can finally tell me your opinion Seto, I said as I calmly took a sip of my chai tea with a hint of jasmine.
-My opinion is that Pegasus has crazy people working for him, replied Seto in his usual cold manner, that man could have hurt you or worst.
-Seto quit hen-pecking! I'm serious! I said getting annoyed with his evasive tactics.
-How can you still drink that stuff? He asked me pointing to my drink. I knew he was trying to distract me from my question and annoy me out of pure pleasure of annoying me. I wasn't stupid and he knew that. He also knew I can't resist giving him one of my own tart replies.
-It's better than that caffeine time bomb you keep drinking; I retorted glaring as I pointed at his strong strait black coffee, which I am sure, is loaded with enough caffeine to tranquilize a horse and render a sloth permanently active for a year [1]. Now quite stalling and tell me what you think of this? 'Why wouldn't he answer me?' I though.
-Anzu, do you seriously expect me to give you my honest opinion? He asked me as he crossed his arms over his chest, what I have to say might upset you; he added as that familiar smirk graced his features, I won't be lenient.
-I know, that's why I need to heard it from you, I said quietly as I set my mug down and peered into it's depths with sadness. I needed to hear what he thought of it, of all of these weird things happening to me. Seto was smart and saw things others sometimes could not. Not that my other friends weren't smart or anything, they were. Yugi had been my first choice but I wanted to tell him face to face and over the phone would not be appropriate for this kind of news. Plus, I don't think I have the willpower to see his reaction to such news yet. Seto was direct with people no matter who they were and I needed a direct opinion right now. His smirk faded as he saw my crestfallen expression. He sighed deeply and leaned back into his chair.
-First, tell me the rest of your 'adventure', he said as he took a gulp of that foul drink.
-Then I entered the elevator after sand flew at me...I continued quietly.
-Sand in an elevator? The kind of company Pegasus is running is beyond me, Seto muttered in his coffee, I always knew he was a quack. How did you manage to stand being in the same room as him? I sent him a glare that could rival his to shut him up but he just ignored it and listened to the rest of my account.
-To tell you the truth, I almost didn't manage. As I was saying; I was pretty confused and angry in that elevator. There was a bunch of sand piled up and I kicked at one of the piles. That's where I saw this, I said taking off the silver necklace and handing it to Seto.
-I didn't notice the cartouche until I got back to my hotel room yesterday night. I noticed his eyes narrow as he saw the cartouche at the end.
-You know what it is, I declared as I saw some sort of recognition on his features. Can you read it? I asked. I wouldn't be surprised if he could; stranger things have happened.
-Katsuya and Yugi told me about this; he said slowly not answering my question, they told me that Atem had promised to keep it well after you gave it to him.
-H...He did, I said as heat rushed through my face as I remembered that moment but the pain of our final parting followed as well. Seto looked at me cautiously before he spoke again.
-Well, I think I have to agree with Mokuba. But I think you should wait a while and see how this plays out; he said with calmness that he always wore around him, if anything else happens then there must be something causing all of this. Then, when you have enough certainty, you should tell the rest of the Scooby-Gang, even if there is the possibility that this might be a dead end.
-But that's just it, this is a dead end Seto! He is dead! You know it; the others saw it! Yugi, Jou, Honda and I felt it! He is dead! I said furiously clutching my mug of tea, he's dead...
Tears threatened to fall down my face as I started shaking. Moments later, I felt hands larger than mine on top of my own dainty ones. I opened my teary eyes to see that Seto had placed his own hands on mine and was looking at me intently with those hard cobalt eyes in which I could see underlined tenderness.
-I don't ever recall dating a coward, he said to me as he wiped a rogue tear from falling. Confused at his statement, I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind but he stopped me by covering my mouth with the hand that had used to wipe my lone tear away.
-I'm not really in the mood to hear you bitch at me in public dear, he said as he looked pointedly at the people sitting around us whom were pretending not to look at us but I could see that they were, we don't need a whole repeat of 3 years ago. I rather disliked the whole town of Domino waiting for one of our legendary fights to begin with anticipation every week; we don't need New York City to do the same now do we? He said with that Kaiba-smirk and superior air.
I bit my tongue...for now. But the man was going to get it.
-You have no idea what I'm going through, I hissed quietly with my torn emotions being laced with my words as I took my hands out of his grasp.
-Don't be a fool and open your eyes Anzu, he said in a tone that told me he had figured something out ahead of me. Your unrequited love for the little Pharaoh is blinding your from doing the right thing because you're afraid of what will come. You've always stuck by your friends with this astonishing strength and courage that still eludes me yet where did it all go? Are you really about to let one of your precious little friends down? I looked down and avoided his intense gaze for I did not know the answer to that question; I was at a loss for words and it hurt to hear those words. But he took my silence as a yes.
-Then you are not the woman I thought you were; he said unemotionally as he placed the cartouche back in my hands, stood up, left money on the table for the both of us and left with a swish of one of his many trademark designer trench coats.
I stared down at my unfinished tea, ashamed of my weakness. Damn that Seto Kaiba!
Always the strategist no matter what the circumstances were. He also had the nerve to use my own peppy speeches, with his modifications of course, against me to get me to see his point. And Seto had a point; lover or not, above all Atem was my friend and if a friend needed me then I should be there for them. No matter how I felt.
Slipping on the cartouche with my resolve, I stood up from my seat, slipped on my coat, grabbed my scarf and ran out of the Starbucks in hopes of catching up with Seto. I was stopped dead in my tracks as I knocked into someone right outside the door. I looked up and saw Seto standing there with a neutral expression on his face. He held out a hand to me and I took it as he helped me to my feet. He looked downwards at me expectantly as we stood there, neither moving.
-You were right, I said giving in after 3 whole minutes of stubborn silence, I am afraid. I'm afraid of having to face that pain I felt 5 years ago. But I'm even more afraid at the fact that this could all be true, I replied as I looked down at my brown boots, that he'll come back but just break my heart in doing so. I don't think I could take that. However...he is still my friend and I have to help him, no matter what. Seto raised a hand and cupped my chin to force me to look at him.
-Now that's the Anzu I fell for, he said as he put my scarf on for me while smiling down at me, there's my Blue Eyes. Seto still had this habit of calling me his Blue Eyes White Dragon. When we had been dating, Seto had just out of the blue started calling me that. But I had felt honour and still do that he considers me to be like one of the most rare and powerful duel monsters in the game.
It was also rare to see Seto smile and it was extraordinary to see him express his feelings freely even thought he only did it with a selected few. He had started smiling more half a year after we had started dating a few months before graduation. Ever the callous, manipulative, pompous bastard he always was but one that I cared for deeply. Seto helped through my toughest times back then and I would always be grateful to him by always keeping a part of him in my heart at his request.
-You knew I was going to cave, I accused as I poked him in the chest, that's why you were waiting for me!
-Is it my fault if I happen to know how to push your buttons? He asked with that smirk, come on, let's go. He put his arm around my shoulders in a friendly manner and led me down the street towards the pedestrian crosswalk.
It was almost sun set and the air became chillier. The sky was a flood of reds, purples, blues and oranges as the sun descended slowly into the horizon. As we neared an intersection, I suddenly had a strange sensation overtake me. It was like lightning struck me and brought my senses into action.
-Would you like a Desert Rose for your beautiful friend? A Rose vendor asked Seto.
-No thank you, Seto replied without sparing the man a glance.
-Free of charge to the purest of hearts, he replied as I vaguely noted him turning towards me. I smiled; eyes closed and took the wrapped flower while ignoring Seto's hissed warnings. He hated it when I talked to total strangers.
-Stop being such a grouch! I hissed back as I looked up to see the face of the vendor and froze. It was him...
The man in the elevator!
-You're...I started but I was interrupted.
-Safiya, there is no time! You must head my words; it will begin soon...
-Who is this psycho?! Demanded Seto as he instinctively put me behind him and starred down the mysterious man with his infamous glare. Sometimes, Seto could be such an untrusting person but at times like these he had every reason to be.
-The man from the elevator Seto, it's him! I whispered hurriedly. The man started to speak again.
- They will come for both the past and the future. But they will need the key and the riddle completed to absolute the ritual. They will come after you too High Priest if you get in their way. You must all protect the key until the time of resurrection had come. Safiya, you must be strong and you must keep the cartouche and the feather with you. I know that your heart is confused but you must believe me. I will soon not be able to help you...they will hinder my attempts to aid you...look for me in your dreams...he stopped abruptly and listened to something.
-I have lingered to long; he said as he looked around the intersection as if someone would jump out of thin air and attack him, I must leave you. Do not leave her alone this night; they might...
-Wait a minute old man! Who are they?! Seto interrupted his voice laced with annoyance and anger but the man, now alert and edgy backed away from us as a crowd of people came and passed before us. I tried to see if the man was still there but the people blocked my view. When they had dissipated there was no trace of him; he had disappeared once again!
-How does he keep doing that!! I yelled in frustration.
-Whoever this guy is, I didn't see him leave over the crowds heads. Come on, he said holding me closer to him as we were about to cross the street. I guess the whole meeting had made Seto alert and more cautious; he didn't want to take any chances. There was a brief yet heavy silence between us.
-Seto, I'm worried. Now I'm getting you mixed up in all of this...I don't want this to interfere with your life...I said breaking the blanket of silence as the revving of cars and motorbikes could be heard as the light went green and we started crossing.
-Listen Anzu, you're stuck with me so deal with it. I'm not afraid of a crazed man's words and neither should you. I'm not going to let whoever is doing this get to you. I still need you....he said not finishing his train of thought as I interrupted.
-Really? I asked at his last comment. Seto really did care...
-Of course. Remember, I have a tournament coming up so I'll have all the time to keep an eye on you. I need you to be there; you're the reining women's champion, he said logically.
Never mind, he was still the calculating selfish clod I remembered.
-I see, I said frowning slightly. When I felt Seto's voice rumbling with suppressed mirth I sent him a deadly glare.
-What' so funny?! I demanded.
-You sounded so disappointed when I said I only cared about you because you the women's champ, he said bending down a little to see my face redden with anger and embarrassment, you should have seen you're face.
-I did not; don't let your ego run wild, I said turning away from him my nose in the air, feigning being miffed at his truthful accusations.
-Sure you didn't. I do care about your well being Anzu. I mean, where would I be if the only woman who dares challenge me was taken away? I would die of boredom, he said smirking. I smiled sat his attempt to redeem himself and to tell me he cared in his own way.
-So, I asked glancing up at him, what's next? I asked
-I guess what I said about you waiting should be ignored; we should tell the others immediately. Even if that Pharaoh was my rival, I know he was a man of his word. He would never give this up willingly if a dear friend had given it to him; he said picking up the cartouche from around my neck and setting it back.
-I guessed as much this morning. So...does this mean you believe me? I asked hopefully.
-As long as you believe Anzu, I'll believe alright? He offered instead of a straight answer.
-Better than you thinking I'm crazy, I said shrugging my shoulders.
-I'd never think that about you, now Isis and her brother on the other hand...
-Seto, Isis and Marik are not crazy. Pegasus on the other hand is the crazed one, I pointed out.
-At least we agree on something. That reminds me; Mai left me a message saying the whole gang was spending the holidays in Egypt. We'll be going together so I can just tell them you forced me to go.
- But I have a show in Paris on the 30th and we are the 27th so I thought that maybe we could meet up with Mai at her boutique and leave with her after my show, I said not declining his offer to traveling with him but telling him he couldn't just make decisions for me either.
-Anzu, Katsuya might be there and you know we don't mix well especially not in enclosed spaces, Seto pointed out as he fished something from his pockets.
-You know you and him get along just fine, you're the best of friends deep down inside, I said, you've just got those male hormones telling you to outdo each other.
-True, said Seto taking out his cell phone and dialling a number in while managing to keep his arm around my shoulders. After a few moments, the recipient of the call picked up.
-Yugi...yeah I got her, he said looking down at me, and no she's perfectly fine. Alright...I suppose...I'll talk to her about it...okay. He hung up and placed the phone within the folds of his trench coat and taking out a pair of car keys.
-And what was that about? I questioned as he stopped in front of a sleek black SL 500.
-Nice convertible, I added as I hopped inside without using the doors, new?
-It is new and there are such things as doors Anzu. I hope you haven't picked that up from the mutt, he said as if he was exasperated by my actions.
-Nope, 100% Mai, I confessed as I buckled up.
-Should have known, he muttered as he started the engine, those two are like two totally opposite peas in a pod.
- About the phone call? I inquired.
-It's really none of your business, he said as he opened his door.
-The conversation topic was me Seto so stop bullshitting me and spit it out. Seto chuckled at my blunt reply.
-Yugi was just worried about you, as always. I don't know why but he called me yesterday night, saying he had a feeling you were troubled and asked me to keep an eye on you, Seto said as he entered this car and started it, funny how he was right.
-That's Yugi for you; he's always there when you need him even when you yourself don't know something is wrong, I said smiling at my best friend's kind nature, he's such a great friend.
-Don't make me puke in my new car Anzu. There's only so much sentimental garbage I can take, Seto said with a smirk.
-Just drive before I kill you...wait, I said I something dawned upon me, where are we going? Are you taking me back to my hotel room?
-The hell I am. I'm taking you to the mansion and that's that. I promised Yugi I'd watch over you and I'm going to do that with or without your consent. I'll drive you to the airport tomorrow morning and I'll have someone pick up your things at your hotel. I smiled at Seto as he drove away from the curb. He was worried about me but wouldn't admit it. 'For all the change he's gone through I guess old habits die hard.' I thought fondly as the wind swept through my hair and his.
-It's either that or your hotel room which I'm hoping has ONLY one bed. Now then I wouldn't mind spending the night at that third rate establishment...
SMA-
Unfortunately, my wrist was caught in mid slap by his right hand as he kept driving with the other.
-It seems it's you who's been picking up things from Jounouchi and not me you hentai!!! I fumed as I pried my wrist away as he kept driving with that stupid grin on his face for succeeding to getting a rise out of me.
'YEAH, OLD HABITS DIE VERY HARD!'
[1] a sloth is an animal which I believe is a mammal. He is called such after his nature which is considered extremely lazy (which it is, just try watching a sloth move 3 inches, it is murder!) I just thought it would be funny to have an animal with such a lazy nature become hyperactive with Seto's caffeine time-bombs. Personally, I believe that sloths are very intelligent animals.
Well that was the 3rd chapter. I thought it was pretty well done. The Seto/Anzu moments are purely platonic once again. They're not together, they just still care for one another, and one more than the other knows...did I say that? Things will start falling more into place next chapter so that the stage will be set for the action. Well as I said up top, I posted two new chapters so get on to the next one but please leave a review for this one before you do.! Thank you for reading!
The 4th chapter will have plenty of action and everyone else because that is the chapter in which they go to....Egypt. And I swear Yugi and the others will find out what's been going on with Anzu lately. Plus a discovery in a tomb and a mystery encounter at the dig site reveals the truth behind all these strange occurrences. I have to get it edited once more before I can get it out there so bear with me you guys. Thank you again for reading!
Until the next update,
Evelyn.