Chapter 10: Edges & Bridges

The Carnival down in the city was still on and the streets were full of people in which Seto Kaiba found himself pushing through the crowd. Some people he ran into chided him, but he shot them a look that silenced them immediately, giving him a little satisfaction in the end.

All the colours had faded from his life and now that he knew what love was, it was hard to have lost it again. He loved Anzu, he only realized now, and he missed her. He missed the girl from nights ago, in her white lace dress who was talking so intellectual, who was able to understand him and whose laughter even sounded clever to him.

But the Anzu Mazaki he left standing on his stairs a week ago, the one that betrayed him, he didn't miss her. Sometimes he wondered how she could have done it or if it was all a dream.

After she disappeared, he had looked through the window a long time, hoping she'd come back around, tell him it was a misunderstanding. He was still waiting to wake up. So everything and everyone around him seemed unreal. He had felt this way before, the cold CEO, but she had showed him a better perspective, things were easier with her. Seto Kaiba didn't want to be stuck again.

"I think Anzu might be in love with me." a voice Kaiba knew too well suddenly caught his attention, making his head spin to the left. Seeing Yugi and Jounouchi standing there by a chippy, zipping on their cokes, Kaiba moved to hide behind a signboard in earshot. Did he just hear right? Anzu in love with Yugi? Was that the reason why-?

Jou seemed to have the same question. "Really?"

Yugi nodded. "Yeah, she came to me the other day, talking about a guy she likes but one of her friend likes as well and she didn't know what to do."

"And you're assuming she talked about you and Rebecca?"

"Of course, who else could she be in love with than me?"

Kaiba growled low in his throat, how bland of Yugi to think Anzu would be in love ith him! But then again, was that true what Yugi said? Did Anzu really like him?After all, they have been best friends since forever.

Setos eyes turned into slits. There was only one way to find out.

Xxx

Anzu was just sitting at her desk in the kitchen, head bent over a book. One more exam was up next week, then she was finally done and could celebrate the wedding with her friends. Thinking about this perfectly made up plan, she didn't expect the ringing of her door bell that forced her up.

She needed a moment longer to reach the door because she felt so tired, but when she was confronted with no one other than Seto Kaiba, she suddenly was wide awake and all danger signs inside of her started to blink.

She opened her mouth slightly in shock and when no words came out and the cold blue eyes were making her nervous, she just wanted to slam the door back into his face, but he put a foot between the door and the frame to stop her.

"I think we need to talk." he stated, sounding frightened to her and mad too.

Anzu didn't step aside to let him in, he did it by himself, just walking past her and she was avoiding coming into contact with his body. After all this time, she couldn't deny her feelings, couldn't deny that she still loved him. But she wasn't allowed to, she would hurt Shizuka and all of her other friends.

She closed the door eventually, eyeing Kaiba shyly as he stood in her narrow hallway, his back to her and his hands buried in his pockets of his neat suit.

"I heard a very interesting conversation today." Kaiba told her then.

Anzu didn't reply, wondering why he came here to tell her that.

Turning to face her now, he saw that her eyes were fixed on the floor. She looked sad and unhappy, just as he could have imagined. Kaiba felt torn between going over to her, take her back into his arms or if he should just discuss this with her even though it would probably end in another fight. But his intention was to get her back, not to let her go.

Watching her thin form for a moment longer, he finally continued to speak.

"Yugi said you came to the shop a while ago." Now she did look up, surprised and a little shocked. So she remembered the conversation she had with Yugi, Kaiba figured.

"He thinks you're in love with him." he stated, watching her cruelly as she shrank away a little.

"That's not true." Anzu eventually muttered, still not looking at Kaiba.

"Then why don't you tell him? Anzu." Kaiba took a step forward and grabbed Anzus arms, shaking her gently so that she would look at him.

"You knew that Shizuka was in love with me so you thought in order to protect her and your friendship, you'd break up with me." Anzu stared into his blue eyes, shocked. How did he figure it out? She could tell from the tone his voice how hurt he was by her actions, though he didn't sound reproachful. "Was it worth it Anzu? Are you happy now?" He didn't expect her to answer, since her body language said everything.

She stood there cringed in the corner, not the adroit girl he used to know. It made him kind of sad, and he vaguely wondered if he had forced her into a relationship.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

Taking a shaky breath, she answered, "I'm sorry, Seto. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that..I don't know who to rely on lately. I don't want to lose Shizuka as my friend, and I know that if I did, I'd lose all the others too. Jou would be mad with me and Yugi..he already thinks I'm a burden.." she chocked on her words and it was then that Kaiba finally beat his ego and walked towards her, pulling her against him in a tight embrace.

"Is it worth it" he whispered to her " to be unhappy because of your friends?"

Kaiba listend to the sobs that escaped Anzu and held her even tighter as she clung to him.

"No. No it's not fair."

xXx

"Just put them over there, thank you. No, the flowers belong into the other corner, this table is for the-"

"Mai." turning around by hearing her name being called, the beautiful blonde woman spotted Anzu standing a few feet away from her. Forgetting about the flowers, the drinks and decoration, all which belonged to her wedding eve's party, she hugged her bruntte friend happily.

"Anzu! I haven't seen you in a while!"

"I know, I'm sorry. I was just so busy." Anzu apologized, though both girls had bright happy faces.

"Your party is fantastic!" Anzu complimented, admiring the cozy scenery.

"Isn't it? I thought it would be nice to celebrate the night before our wedding with everyone who supported us throughout the last few months."

Anzu nodded, suddenly her mouth felt very dry.

"Oh look, there are the others." Grabbing Anzus arm, the blonde dragged her friend behind her across the room.

"Mai, you look gorgeous, and Anzu, nice to see you! Where have you been?" Yugi sounded excited, but Anzu could tell he was nervous. She avoided talking to him since Kaiba told her that he thought she was in love with him.

"Actually-"

"Anzu, lets grab a drink, shall we?" Again, Anzu was pulled away, this time by Shizuka.

Having reached the bar, Shizuka ordered two drinks, handing one to Anzu.

"You know, " she said, flipping her long hair behind her exposed shoulder, "I'm so happy everything is back to normal. I mean, you and Kaiba, Anzu, you were just not meant to be, right? I'm so glad you broke up with him. It really means a lot to me." Anzu could barely smile. Shizuka wasn't mad at her anymore, but that didn't really change anything. The younger girl would remind Anzu every minute they were alone what she felt about Kaiba and what Anzu shouldn't feel. And everytime Shizuka spoke about Kaiba, Anzu felt less for her friend. Shizuka only saw her own happiness.

Before Anzu could say anything, Shizukas eyes turned wide and Anzu turned to look why.

Standing in the french door to the large party room stood Seto Kaiba, eyes casting the crowd, searching for a face. Shizukas eyes turned even wider when the tall man dressed in an elegant black suit strode towards them.

"He's coming for me, finally!" Shizuka shrieked beside Anzu who couldn't share the excitement, looking rather sad.

"Good evening" Kaiba greeted the girls politley. Shizuka offered her hand for him to kiss when he bowed slightly, but instead he kissed Anzus hand.

"You look beatiful, as always." He winked his eyes at her and Anzu smiled. Then she noticed Shizukas mad expression.

"Anzu, what is this about?" the other brunette girl demanded to know.

"See Shizuka, I tried to givde up on Kaiba for our friendship. But you-"

"You betrayed me?! Again?" People started to look as Shizuka raised her voice.

"You don't give me anything Shizuka, our friendship is not what it used to be. It's not only you, everyone has moved on with theirs lives and I don't want to be the one left behind. Kaiba has given me more than any of you these last few months." Anzu explained, holding Kaibas hand who squezed it to encourage his girlfriend to finally speak her mind and stand up for their relationship.

"No! No! I'm going to tell Jou-"

"Shizuka, wait." Someone has grabbed Shizukas wrist, but it wasn't Anzu nor Kaiba. It was Mai.

Everyone stared at her in shock.

"Anzu is right. They love each other, so leave them alone. You're not very lucky with relationships, but you're still young and you'll find someone someday."

"But tomorrow..the wedding and I..I wanted to..a date..and.." the young girl sobbed.

"Shizuka, what is wrong?" Now, Jou and Yugi joined them, too.

"Anzu stole Kaiba from me!" Shizuka shouted.

"No she didn't" Kaiba and Mai said in unsion. All eyes wandered now to Anzu's and Kaibas clasped hands.

"Oh, you two are now..?"

"A couple. That's right. And we don't care if you accept it or not." Kaiba grunted. It was silent again in the small group.

"We accept it." Jou finally said and brought a relieved smile to everyones faces. Mai and Yugi went to hug Anzu and congratulate the couple, not really minding Shizuka storming off angryly. "I can't belive you!" she shouted when pushing through the confused crowd of people gathered in the room.

Xxx

It had been a wonderful ceremony, with everyone now seated in the great saloon, the freshly married couple thanked their guests for making it such a special day.

Anzu listned to them with a smile on her face. Looking around she saw all the people important to her, even though it had been a tough time for her and she felt left out, in the end they were still friends. Yugi caught her eyes and returned her smile, holding Rebeccas hand firmly in his own. After he told Anzu that he thought she was in love with him, he received a laugh that made it clear he was wrong. "Sorry Yugi, you are my best friend and you really mean a lot to me, but" another laugh, " but how could think that?"

Yugi just laughed along, scratching the back of his head, relived that everything seemed to back to normal.

When Mai and Jou finished their speech and raised their glasses, Anzu felt a tip of fingertips on her shoulder.

"Anzu, do you have a moment?" Shizuka, who sat with her mother at the bridal couple table, now stood behind Anzu.

"Of course" the latter said, glancing at the tall man next to her, Kaiba let go of her hand he enclosed with his own. "I'll be back in a second." she told him and got up to follow Shizuka.

"Anzu, I'm sorry." they barely left the hall when the young girl began to fumble with her words. "I was just so obsessed with having a boyfriend...I'm sorry I was selfish." she bowed her head in shame, waiting for Anzu's response. "And I understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore."

"Shizuka, don't be silly." Anzu suddenly cut her off. " You're forgiven." She stepped close to hug the girl, who sighed a happy "Thank you."

"Now, let's go back and enjoy the party!" taking her hand, Anzu dragged Shizuka back into the saloon where the younger girl settled down next to her mother again, whereas Anzu was greeted with a slight smile of Seto. Walking towards him and watching the anticipation on his face, Anzu remembered all the things that brought them here together in the end.

"Are you okay?" he asked her when she gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Yes" she smiled brightly up at him before his lips met hers in a sensual kiss, closing the gap between him and her.

The End