Author's Note: Almost to Chapter 10, folks! Thank you so much for the comments you all have posted; you guys make writing this story worth every effort.


Chapter 9 : Unexpected Partner

Shivering as a slight breeze passed by, Anzu rang the doorbell and stood on the doorstep of the Kaiba mansion. It was a tall, imposing manor, one that displayed wealth, power, and isolation. It fit Kaiba perfectly, and she briefly pondered over what was to be expected of her. After all, she was sure Kaiba never allowed those he didn't trust into his house, and here she was being asked to babysit Mokuba in his absence. "Maybe he is appreciative of my support?" she thought before chuckling to herself. "More like he feels bad because I have been there every time he has awoken with Mokuba by my side." It was predictable, but at least she was getting a bit closer to the cold-hearted CEO. She wanted to be his friend, for she knew there had to be a good side to him. "Perhaps, after this, I will be asked to come over more often?" Now she was just thinking to think. She forgot that it was Seto Kaiba she was talking about, not an ordinary person. She sighed and waited as she heard footsteps approaching the entrance. The door soon opened to reveal Mokuba Kaiba, who smiled up at her and said, "Anzu! Thanks for coming over!"

The boy stepped out of her way, and Anzu smiled and nodded before entering the main foyer. She did her best to hide her surprise; the entrance alone was large enough to fit a majority of the rooms in her apartment! A beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling, and a staircase was located near the center, leading up to a balcony which connected to the second floor. A doorway to her right revealed a rather expensive-looking dining room, while the room on her left appeared to be a small den. Past the staircase was an opening which led to a large living room. She could see a television and some furniture in the farthest room, and she briefly wondered how many rooms the two brothers actually used. She could imagine that they didn't utilize the grand dining room quite as much as it was made for.

"How is Kaiba doing?" she asked once Mokuba had closed and locked the door.

"He's doing… I don't know, I guess better," Mokuba answered, walking up next to her. "He has yet to have another attack, but I can tell he is still hearing and seeing things. Sometimes I worry that he is hiding how bad his condition is from me, but hopefully this trip of his will help him out."

"Where is he planning to go?"

"He found an old facility that Gozaburo had used in order to research biological weapons," he explained. "Apparently he found numerous facilities under the term in the archives, but since we were unaware of Gozaburo's studies until now, we never thought to look. Anyways, he found a testing lab on an island that appears to still be in use, at least to a degree. He wants to go and check it out to see if there is anything related to what happened in the virtual reality."

"Does he believe he'll find something?"

"I think so. He seems very determined."

Anzu frowned. There was something wrong with the way he was speaking. She could tell something was bothering him. "But you don't want him to go?" she asked slowly, hoping to approach it the right way. It came out, however, as more of a statement and less of a question.

"It's just…" Mokuba sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I know he needs to find this cure, but I'm worried about him leaving. I just don't trust this place, whatever it is. It looks innocent enough, but if it is still registered, then there may be people or other things there."

"Does he have someone going with him?"

"He is supposed to have hired a few guards. But still, the guards don't know about his condition, and if anything were to happen to Seto because of it, the guards won't know what to do. I keep telling him this, and he keeps telling me he'll be fine, but I don't know."

It was what she and the gang had feared. "Once again Kaiba is too damn proud for his own good," she thought. "Why he cannot ask help from someone, especially at a time like this, I will never understand."

"Well, I am glad to see that someone actually believes in being punctual."

The sound caused her to blink in surprise, and she glanced up to see Seto Kaiba descending the staircase, carrying his silver, metallic briefcase. His appearance caught her off-guard, for he was not dressed in his usual business suit or trenchcoat attire. Instead, he was wearing a pair of black jeans with a dark green t-shirt. His black sneakers squeaked on the clean, wooden flooring. Around his left wrist was a platinum watch, and dangling around his neck was his card necklace. She wondered what card was important enough to carry around at all times; she had yet to see him without it, and yet he couldn't have put one of his Blues Eyes in the carrier. There was no way he would puncture a hole through his favorite card.

Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Kaiba nodded to her and said, "Thank you for taking care of Mokuba today. I didn't feel like going through the process of hiring a babysitter, and you seem mature enough to take care of him for the day."

"It's not a problem, Kaiba," she answered. "I don't mind doing this for you two."

Kaiba scoffed at her and rounded the corner, heading towards the room at the end of the hallway. Anzu and Mokuba followed and soon entered a large living room with more than enough entertainment system equipment to occupy a houseful of children. "This is the main living room, as you can see," Kaiba stated. "Bathrooms are to the left here, down that little hallway. I take it you saw the dining room on the way in?" When she nodded yes, he said, "Past there is the kitchen. There's enough food in there for the two of you. My phone number as well as several others are listed just in case anything should happen." He said this last part coldly, and Anzu interpreted it as meaning that nothing should happen to require such a call. "Upstairs is the bedrooms and offices, which you two are not allowed to enter." He glanced back at Mokuba, who blushed slightly at the remark. "That means no rummaging through my things," he added, smirking down at his younger brother. Anzu chuckled; apparently that was a bit of a problem. "And that is about it. Any questions?"

"Yes. Are you doing any better since the hospital event?"

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mazaki, I'm doing better, else I would not be traveling to this island by myself."

"Seto, isn't Roland going with you?" Mokuba exclaimed, taking a step forward in surprise. Anzu's eyes widened as well.

"No. I have decided he is staying here with the two of you. Should anything happen, you can ask him for help."

"But Seto, Anzu is staying with me! You need the protection more than I do!"

"This facility hasn't been used since Gozaburo was in charge. It's probably a deserted, dusty, old mansion by now. There is nothing to worry about."

"Seto…" Mokuba sighed in defeat, causing Anzu to frown.

"Kaiba, you really need to look at this situation realistically," she scolded, causing his eyes to widen slightly. "You are having mental problems, and while I am not judging you on that since I know you had no say in the matter, the way you are handling this is rather poor. What if something were to happen to you? What if you had another attack or if something went wrong in this testing facility? All sorts of things could happen, and you're just going to up and leave without someone to protect you?"

"Mazaki, I really do not understand how this is your concern," he remarked in a cold manner. "Besides, you act as though I have never taken a defense course in my life. I know how to handle myself."

"It's my concern because I am worried about you!" she exclaimed. "I know, it's a shocker that someone other than Mokuba cares about you, but honestly, I don't want to see you fall unconscious again! And it doesn't matter how many defensive courses you've taken. If your brain waves lose control again, you won't know how to defend yourself!"

"Mazaki, I have already agreed with Mokuba that I will call every hour to verify that I am safe," he replied. "I will not technically be alone on this trip. I will have him and you to call."

"But what if you don't call? What if something happens and there is no one there to help you?"

"Nothing will happen that—"

"You don't know that for sure, Kaiba!" she interrupted. "You cannot predict the future. Something can happen, and if does, then what?"

Kaiba stared coldly at her as he released a heavy sigh, seemingly contemplating what it was he wanted to say to her. Anzu briefly noticed that Mokuba had since left the room, and she wondered where he had run off to. Kaiba seemed to notice it as well, for his eyes widened before he bit his lower lip. "Look, I am going to be honest with you," he stated, his voice dropping in volume. The change startled her considerably. "I don't like the idea of going to this island either. But I have to go. You know my head is fucking with me right now, and if there is any way that I can find a cure, I am going to do whatever it takes. But I don't know what to expect on this island, and I cannot bring Mokuba along. And as for the guards, I can't let anyone from the company know what is happening to me. If anyone were to report that my behavior is abnormal, people would be quick to bring me down. I can't have that happen at any cost. I don't like this situation anymore than either of you, but it is my only option at this point."

"But Kaiba, that doesn't make it right."

"It doesn't matter if it is right or not. What matters is that I get this cure. I cannot stand having this…whatever it is affecting me. No matter what it takes, I am going to fix this problem."

"You can't bring one person along, just for your protection?"

"The only person I trust is Mokuba, and I can't afford to have anything happen to him."

"So you risk your own skin for this? How do you think Mouba feels about this?"

The sound of footsteps attracted the two's attention, and both turned to see Mokuba reenter the room, phone in hand. He sighed and stared at Kaiba with a look of determination. He then turned to her and asked, "Anzu, you don't mind riding a boat, do you?"

The question puzzled her, and her eyebrows knit together as Kaiba turned to face his younger brother. "Mokuba, what are you—"

"Jounouchi and Yugi are coming over to the mansion to take care of me," he interrupted, returning his gaze to his brother. "They said they will be here in ten minutes, and that they are free all day and available tonight should anything happen. Since you don't trust anyone to go with you, I want Anzu to go to make sure nothing happens."

Anzu's eyes widened as Kaiba took a step back in shock. "Mokuba, what is the meaning of this?" he exclaimed. "You cannot just force this onto people!"

"Seto, I am not letting you go to that island unless someone is there who knows about your condition!" Mokuba fought back. "You don't know what could happen, and I don't know what could happen! Anzu knows what is wrong, and if you were willing to trust me in her care, then you obviously trust her to a degree. She can go with you and make sure nothing happens. If you get hurt, then she will be there to help you out. I'm not letting you go alone!"

"Mokuba, you cannot just—"

"And if nothing happens, as you think is the case, then there will be no harm, right?"

"Mokuba…" Kaiba sighed and stared at his younger brother with an almost hurt expression. Anzu wondered how it felt to be put into such a situation. He had just been outsmarted by his younger brother, and from the information he had just provided, he knew his little brother was right.

"I… I mean, I really don't mind if I am allowed to tag along, but I…" Not knowing what to say, she approached the CEO and smiled. "Honestly, if it is all right with you, I do not mind coming along. After all, he has a good point. If nothing happens, then no harm, no foul, right?"

He glanced over at her with a worried expression. Staring directly into her eyes, he said, "You do realize that this will be a whole day affair, and that I am not liable should anything happen to you? If you get hurt, I will help you out, however you cannot blame me should something go wrong. I don't know what to expect there, and if anything were to happen, you are responsible for yourself. Is that clear?"

"I want to see you get better just as much as you do," she answered. "If there is any way I can help, I'll do what I can."

"Right, so she is going with you," Mokuba chimed in. "Yugi and Jounouchi can come over and take care of me. We will have the phone set up so that you can call every hour to tell us you and Anzu are okay. Just so long as someone goes with you, Seto, I don't care."

Kaiba shook his head before returning his attention to Mokuba. "Sometimes, Mokuba, I think I taught you too well," he muttered, walking up to the boy and messing with his hair. Leaning down, he said, "Be sure to inform Yugi and the mutt that they are to follow house rules, and remind them that if I find anything broken or dirty, they will face severe consequences."

Mokuba smiled and nodded his head. "We'll probably just stay in here and play video games," he replied. "Just be sure to come back safe, okay?"

Kaiba nodded. Mokuba reached out to give his brother a hug, and Anzu watched as Kaiba returned it. She smiled at the simple gesture; it seemed to be the only move in which the CEO's defenses dropped. It was only when he was hugging his brother that she ever saw a smile cross his lips.

After a few seconds, the two brothers released their hold on each other, and Kaiba stood before clearing his throat. Turning, he briefly looked Anzu over before saying, "Are you going to be comfortably walking around in those clothes?"

She briefly glanced down at her attire and nodded yes. She was wearing a pair of tan shorts along with a yellow t-shirt and brown sneakers. She hadn't known whether to dress up or not for the position of Mokuba Kaiba's babysitter, and she was happy to have followed her intuition which told her no.

"Good. Then let's get going. I want to be there by noon, and we have already wasted enough time. Mokuba, if Yugi and Jounouchi don't come in ten minutes, call me and I will return home. You are not staying home by yourself, even if Roland is stationed here. Understood?"

Mokuba nodded his head and stepped aside for the two to reenter the main foyer. "Good luck, Big Brother!" he shouted down the hallway, and Anzu noticed the slight hint of a smile cross Kaiba's lips before it vanished just as quickly. The two exited the mansion and approached a sleek, dark blue car that Anzu could only see on commercials for the rich and famous. Kaiba tossed the briefcase into the backseat of the car before sliding into the driver's seat. Anzu sat down in the passenger's seat, and soon the two were driving down the long driveway of the Kaiba Manor and off to their destination.