So for this chapter I decided to go with the first verse and the second verse-bridge from Blue October's Calling You because I thought that they fit in the most and with the story coming to a close soon [I think two more chapters after this, maybe three depending where it goes] I thought it best to just use part of a song instead of one whole song spread across the story like I did with the first six chapters. I know it took a long time for me to post this but there were many things that prevented me from posting sooner, writer's block being the major factor. But I managed to punch it out finally along with another chapter for my Iunyasha story Into The Night. Hope you will enjoy the chapter and please tell me what you think. I have no idea when I'll post the next chapter. It really depends on how well it flows out. Sometimes I just don't feel like writing for days because it won't come out right and I can't put something out that I'm not happy with.


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There's something that I can't quite explain

I'm so in love with you, you'll never take that away

And if I've said a hundred times before, expect a thousand more

You'll never take that away

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"Anzu I'm only going to do this to keep up the circulation, that's it. Quit flinching and squirming."

Anzu crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. She couldn't help but flinch as every touch triggered a negative reaction in her body. She willed herself to relax, feeling her phobia trying to surface.

'He's only trying to help, nothing else.' She though, repeating it over and over until it became a sort of mantra. 'I trust him.'

When she finally held belief in that trust, her body stopped flinching and she could relax as Malik massaged her legs. It had been a week since they came to the cabin and her legs were nearly healed. In a few more days, they would be completely healed. Sighing contentedly, she laid her head against the cushions of the couch and watched him knead her muscles like dough. Tension began to leave her body and soon she was drifting off to sleep.

Sitting on the cold stone floor, Anzu waited. What she was waiting for, she hadn't a clue. But still she waited…waited.

"Anzu?"

Hearing her name, she turned around to see Malik. Smiling she stood up and ran to him, jumping into his arms.

"You're here." She said happily.

Her smile however dropped when he didn't return it.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"I'm sorry." He replied as his face took on a pained expression.

Anzu frowned. "For what? Why are you sorry?"

"I'm sorry." He repeated as he stepped back, fading in the wind.

"Malik?! Where are you?" She yelled.

"He can't mean to leave me? He can't leave me. I-" Anzu paused. 'Do I love him? It's too early to tell isn't it?'

The thought of Malik leaving made Anzu's heart lurch; the warmth she felt had now been replaced by a fearful coldness that drenched her entire body.

Anzu jerked awake only to find herself alone. Panic gripped her heart and she moved to get up, to find him. She went to the kitchen to see if Bakura knew where he was but he wasn't there. Frowning, she went to the back room but neither of them were there. She listened for any sound but only silence returned. A new kind of fear began to take over her and she couldn't stop it. Dropping against the couch, Anzu wrapped her arms around her body, tightly hugging herself. After a few minutes she began to scour the entire cabin once again.

Once again she found nothing.

However, when she walked into the kitchen, she noticed a piece of paper on the counter. She could swear it wasn't there before. Reaching out she plucked from the countertop and read it.

Dear Anzu,

We stepped out for a bit to restock the cabin. Be back soon.

Bakura

PS: Malik says not to leave the cabin until we come back

Anzu felt the pressure lift off her chest, her breath coming into her lungs easier. They hadn't left her, they would be back. Crumbling the paper in her hand, she tossed it into the garbage can beside the refrigerator. Leaning against the counter, Anzu took a deep breath to calm down. She couldn't believe herself. Here she was freaking out over something minor, something minuscule. And she wasn't even sure if he felt the same. Sure he acted like it sometimes but who knew if it was for real. She knew men like him, pretending to be something they're not just to get what they want. She didn't want to get hurt again but she couldn't ignore her heart.

'This is silly.' She thought. 'I can't be falling for him.'

Anzu bit her lower lip, her brow knitted together as her mind tried to deny what her heart said. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. When she was with him, she felt safe despite the fact he made his living as a thief. He was harsh, crude, and violent at times, yet none of that mattered. He hadn't hurt her. Even after all that she'd said or done, he hadn't laid a harmful hand on her. He came to her rescue when Mack kidnapped her. They could've left her to die and went on with their lives but they didn't. She began to see a slow change in his behavior towards her. He was nicer, he didn't push her to do something she didn't want to whereas in the beginning, he would've; even possibly resorting to force in order to get it done. It made her afraid but at the same time curious. She wanted to see it progress further but was afraid her insecurities would hold her back. Her relationship with Mack took a long time to get over. The mental, physical, and emotional abuse affected her on an intense level. Getting through the past few years had been hard, very hard.

Shaking her head to rid her thoughts, Anzu walked into the living room. After moving the rug and coffee table to the couch, that now sat against the wall, she plopped to the floor and began her stretching routine.

-

"Are you sure we got everything?" Malik asked.

Bakura nodded as he closed the trunk of the car.

"I had Anzu check over it twice yesterday."

"Okay, I guess we'll head back then." Malik said as they piled into the car.

"I'll be glad when this is over." He added a few moments later.

"You'll be glad?! I'm sick of dealing with the two of you. I'll tell you one thing. Anzu is not pleasant during her week." Bakura griped.

Malik shivered at that memory. He thought he'd seen her angry before but not like she was last week. She actually kicked him out of the room, forcing him to sleep on the couch. That, in turn, made him cranky. The couch was not made to be slept on.

"Remind me not to make her angry during then."

A few more silent moments passed when Malik cursed low and took a sharp turn.

"What the hell man?!" Bakura yelled, clinging to the dashboard for dear life.

"Mack. End of the sidewalk, go follow him. I'll drop the food off and come back." Malik replied as he shoved Bakura out of the car.

"All right, I'm going. Hurry up." He said as he shut the door.

Bakura sighed as he looked down the street. Seeing Mack slip around the corner, he jogged after him, tying his hair back and flipping up his hood. Mack wasn't hard to follow. Apparently the leg Malik shot hadn't healed right. Most likely because of Boss. They walked about two blocks before Mack stopped and entered what looked to be a closed down store. Bakura waited several minutes before walking past the building, mentally jotting down the address. He continued to walk around the block until Malik showed up with the car.

"Well?" Malik asked.

"He went into an old florist shop. It's closed down. I noticed he had a bit of a limp. Seems the gun wound hasn't healed."

Malik chuckled darkly. "Serves him right."

Bakura gave him a strange look but ignored the comment for now.

"So what should we do now?" Malik asked.

"Well I noticed a few gangs of young kids in the area. Perhaps we can persuade one to deliver a message?" Bakura answered.

"Sounds good to me." Malik said. "There's some scrap paper and a pen I think in the glove department."

Bakura fished around for the items, finding them after a moment. There were a couple pieces of paper and a dull pencil that had no eraser. Using one sheet of paper, they sketched out their plan then transferred it to the other paper. Once done, they parked the car and approached the nearest group.

"Hey man, you lost or something?" one of them asked.

"No dear boy. I am never lost as long as someone's entrails lead the way." Bakura replied with a dark smirk.

Malik snorted at the boys expressions. Clearly, they were new to this.

"Let's just cut to the chase. We'll give you a hundred dollars if you deliver a message to an associate of ours." Malik cut in.

"Sure."

Bakura handed him the note, threatening his life if he read it, and gave him the address with the promise of the money when he returned. The boy ran off as fast as possible.

"You know, I do miss getting the newbies to do my little odd jobs." Bakura quipped.

Malik laughed.

Ten minutes passed before the boy returned.

"He said okay."

Bakura nodded and gave him the money owed then him and Malik went back to the cabin. Later that evening, the three of them sat around the small dining table.

"We found Mack today and let him know of our plan." Malik told her.

"And?" Anzu cast a worried glance.

"He has agreed."

Anzu nodded. Her nerves showed on her face and she knew it.

"However, we do have an advantage." Bakura began.

She looked up at him with a confused frown.

"We went to the building for a thorough walkthrough before talking to Mack. The place that we are putting you has a hidden door that leads to the outside. Our plan is that once the two of them come in, when distracted enough, we will jump them and chain them to the building. Now the spot where we will do that is well hidden from view. If they are discovered, it will be too late." Bakura said.

Anzu nodded, her worry still evident on her face.

"Don't worry too much," Malik smiled at her. "Everything will go according to plan."

Anzu smiled back, trying her best to seem at ease. But she would be nervous until it was over and possibly not even then. So much rode on the success of this and it was hard to stay optimistic. But she would try. For him.

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You take away the old, show me the new

And I feel like I can fly when I stand next to you

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