Thanks to my reviewers: CWolf2, Suheil373, KaibaGurl47, White Moon Universe Guide, Silver Mist4, Mamono, Keikogurl, Yukito, HieilovesBotan, Genki No Yuuki, Marin M, Moonkid3734, Tombmistress, Svelte Rose, Serenity Komoshiro, Klacb, Kikoken, Mezu, Noble Paladin, Destiny 1029, Vaz12o1 and Demona, Quinn, Lunar Dragon 209, Sehgun, Laday Trickster. You guys rock!

Thanks Mamono, you are a lifesaver!


In For Penny…

Chapter Seven

Seto prepared himself to do something he'd never done before. He was going to apologize. To his point of view, he had nothing to apologize for, he'd only told the truth to that whiny brat. Sadly, though, his brother had taken a liking to said whiny brat and refused to talk to him until he apologized for making her sad.

Three days, he'd lasted three days against his brother's silent treatment. It irked him that Mazaki was responsible for that; he'd had fights with his brother before, but Mokuba had never stopped talking to him for three days! Even worse than that, Mokuba wanted Mazaki to visit more often, even after the project was finished. Seto didn't know how he would survive if Mazaki actually agreed, although he was sure she wouldn't. But he would try, if it meant making his brother happy, he would try.

She entered the class with her back straight and her nose in the air. 'Annoying twit,' was his first thought when he saw her. She didn't even glance at him on her way to her seat. She'd avoided him like the plague at lunch and in between classes; she'd chatter around with her friends, pretending he didn't exist. However, when it was impossible not look at him and their eyes met, she'd shoot him a fiery glare that would send a lesser man running for his life. He had always wondered at her uncanny power of controlling her friends when she wanted to. Those poor fools didn't stand a chance against that glare.

He didn't care for that glare. He wasn't one of her little friends and he could care less about her approval. But he'd promise Mokuba that he would apologize to her. He would approached her after class, the excuse would be to set up the time for their next meeting, and then he would do it. He'd gone over it many times in his mind, that seemed the best possible way; there was no way in hell he was going to apologize in front of her friends. In truth they really needed to set up a time for their meeting so it wasn't so much an excuse but a reason to talk to her.

The teacher droned on and on what seemed like forever to the impatient Kaiba. He wanted to apologize and then forget about the apology as soon as possible. The things he would do for his brother!

"Remember that you're projects are due next week. Good luck." Finally, class was over.

As the students scattered out, Seto sat still, knowing that Anzu had to pass by his desk to get to the door.

"Mazaki," He called out.

She passed him by without acknowledgement.

"Mazaki," she didn't break her stride.

'Damn woman!'

"When are you coming to finish the project?" He asked hoping to deter her; she only quickened her pace.

It was now or never. "I'm sorry." It came out as growl.

Anzu turned around slowly, hands on her hips and brow arched. "For?"

'For what?'

Mokuba hadn't specified what Seto had to be sorry for. At a loss, he did what came most naturally to him; he scowled at her. He'd apologized, wasn't that enough. Did she really need to know what for?

"For hurting your feelings," Kaiba was nothing, if not quick on his feet.

Anzu gave him a blinding smile that gave him an odd feeling in his stomach. "Did that hurt?"

Seto arched a brow waiting for her to elaborate.

"Apologizing, it must have been painful for you," she giggled, "but I forgive you, only because I know how horrible this was for you. Say hi to your brother for me. Oh, and I'll be at your house tomorrow to finish the project. Bye." She finished as she exited the classroom.

'That hadn't gone all that bad,' he thought as he let his head hit his desk with a loud thump.


"You know you can tell me anything, right, Anzu?" Yugi asked her as they walked home.

"Yes, Yugi, and I've already told you and the others that there's nothing between me and Kaiba," Anzu said exasperated.

"Didn't look like that on Friday or today after your class."

"I already explained Friday night, as for today, we were just talking about the project."

Yugi gave her a dubious glance from the corner of his eyes. "If, and I'm saying if there is something going on between you two, then we would all be okay with it. Jounouchi would come around, you know."

As much as the conversation was grating on her nerves for it's utter lack of reality, Anzu was glad to have such nice friends. Although, having a former crush (or the other personality of her crush), tell her that it was okay to get it on with his former enemy, wasn't much of an ego booster. Sure, she felt nothing for the spirit any more, but having her fears confirmed about Yami never having any feelings for her, just plain sucked.

"Thanks, Yugi, but believe me, there is nothing and there will never be anything between me and Kaiba except dislike."

Again, Yugi gave her a glance, this one full of knowing that had Anzu's skin prickling in response.


"Did you apologize?" was the first thing Mokuba said when Seto arrived at his home.

"Yes."

His brother's response was automatic and immediate; he launched himself into his brother's arms.

He missed it, Mokuba's exuberance and incomprehensible need for touch. He didn't think he ever would. There were times when he'd been annoyed at Mokuba's unrestrained shows of affection, felt overwhelmed when he couldn't return the feelings, not the way Mokuba wanted or needed. Never again. He hugged his brother tighter and cursed Anzu for making Mokuba mad him. She was such a pain in the ass, why did Mokuba like her so much?

"Did she agree on coming to visit? Really visit?"

"I think it would be better if you ask her."

"You're right, she doesn't like you very much," Mokuba stated.

"She doesn't like me at all and the feeling is returned in full."

"She thinks I'm adorable, that's what she told me," Mokuba said grinning.

"Which just proves how insane she is."

"Hey!" Mokuba shook a fist at him, showing how offended he was by his comment but ended up laughing instead as Seto tickled him furiously.

"I'm sorry , Seto," Mokuba said, once Seto stopped tickling him, "for being mean to you this weekend. But Anzu was really sad and I was afraid she wouldn't come back. I like her." He said blushing.

"I'll try to be nicer," he assured his brother, although he was sure that the effort would just about kill him.

"You don't have to be nice to her, just don't be mean."


She wasn't mad at him anymore, Seto thought the next day after school. She'd given him one of her little smiles. She'd started doing in that ever since they started working on the project. It was infinitely better than glares and more suited to his purpose.

He walked purposely toward her, only the mutt and Yugi where with her. Jounouchi moved closer to her, placing a hand on her waist, making Kaiba want to strangle him.

Anzu, feeling that it was her that Kaiba needed to talk to, said goodbye to her friends and stepped towards him. Jounouchi had a definite pout on his face that soothed some of Seto's earlier feelings of homicide.

"Hi," she said.

"Hello. I, um," He cleared his throat, "As you know, Mokuba really likes you. Today he's going to ask you to visit whenever you want. For his sake, I'm asking you to please do."

"All right."

"'I'll be busy working-"

"I said okay, " Anzu said, a tiny understanding smile on her face. She had been planning to visit Mokuba anyway.

"Oh," 'That was quick,' he thought. He had expected her to put up a fight, argue excessively until he would have to offer to pay her. It was a surprise she'd agree so quickly and without any form of compensation.

"Your brother is adorable." 'And in need of company'.

"Thank you, " he said, for some reason oddly pleased at her compliment and at her...

"You're welcome. I have to get going now. I'll see you in the afternoon."

"Okay."

It must have been hard, Anzu thought as she walked away, for him to come up to her like that. It showed how much he cared for his brother to ask someone he obviously didn't like to go visiting at his house. She felt newfound respect for him blooming inside her. He could be an arrogant prick, a jerk, but he was a loving one, if that made sense at all. She imagined if anyone else managed to worm themselves into his heart, then they would be as fiercely protected and loved by him as was Mokuba.

Anzu had gone no further than a block when Seto's shiny new car pulled over next to her. "Get in the car, Mazaki. I'll drive you home."

For the first time Anzu could remember, she wasn't upset by Kaiba's arrogant tone. She quickly walked over to the passenger side and got in. "Thanks."

They arrived at her house fairly quickly since it was close to the school. Seto had remained quiet throughout the drive, but it had been a comfortable drive nonetheless. Anzu had the urged to hug him. So she did, fully aware of what she was doing, unlike the last time when she had kissed him without thinking.

She reached over to him and hugged him, laying her head on his chest, ignoring the way he stiffened. "You're a good brother." She said.

Unembarrassed, she climbed out of the car, smiling softly at Kaiba's stiffened posture. If that was all it took to rattle Seto Kaiba, she would have done it sooner.

He recovered quickly and drove home, the odd feeling in his stomach accompanied him the whole way. Maybe it had been something he ate…


Um… cookies?