Chapter Fourteen
Yami smiled lightly at Anzu as he came to them with four thick, fur cloaks. He handed one to each of the guests. "It's cold out," he explained, "and these are extras." He watched them put them on and then slip their packs on, excluding Anzu, who was frowning and peering at the hallway leading to the ballroom. Yami moved his worried gaze to Bakura, who just shook his head a bit. Biting his lip, Yami glanced back at Anzu. He's not coming, he thought, watching her shoulders droop a bit. He wouldn't be able to handle his emotions if he did.
Pasting a false smile on his lips, Yami moved forward to Anzu and fixed her cloak idly and then held her at arm's lengths. "We'll miss you, dove," he murmured. She gave a watery smile and let him hug her. In her ear, he whispered, "Malik will, too, even if he didn't come to say farewell."
"It's fine, Yami. I understand." She drew away, blinking rapidly at the tears in her eyes. She turned from him and hugged Ryou, who went red in the face. When she turned to Bakura, she hesitated. He chuckled and took her hands, bringing her into a light embrace.
"Take care," he said with a smirk. She smiled and then grabbed her pack, pushing it on her back and turning to her father and two friends.
"Let's go home, Anzu," Shizuka said lightly. Anzu nodded slowly.
Home... She mused. Somehow, the word seemed foreign to her. She waved a hand at the three mages, who stood side-by-side, not following them outside. When the doors closed behind her, a heaviness filled her heart. I wish Malik had come to say goodbye...I wish I could have seen him one last time.
X
Malik sighed, watching Anzu's group move towards the gates through the window in the tower. He had wanted, so badly, to go down and say goodbye to her. He was afraid of losing control, though. He had a feeling that would be the exact thing that would happen. Wouldn't that be nice? He caustically thought. Witness me, the prince of the castle, who is a cold-hearted bastard, bawl at the loss of a woman. A dry smile tilted his mouth upward. Yes, wouldn't that be pleasant?
He saw Anzu's form pause at the gates and she turned. She raised her hand in farewell and he had a feeling it was meant for him. He rested his forehead against the stone of wall and murmured, "Goodbye, Anzu Mazaki." He pulled away from the window, watching as she and the others vanished in the forest. And know that I love you, he added silently before disappearing to the foyer.
He moved to the parlor and shook his head, seeing Yami lying on the couch with his arm thrown over his eyes. Bakura was sitting on the divan across from Yami's with his brother. Wine wouldn't help them right now. He vanished the wine bottle and brandy appeared. He poured himself a glass and drank it leisurely. "Where were you?" Yami muttered throatily, sniffing. "She was waiting for you."
Malik ignored him and then frowned when he jerked to a sitting position, glaring at him. Bakura glanced at his face and then looked away just as quickly. "Stop crying," Malik ordered, downing the rest of his drink.
"I am a human being!" Yami howled angrily. "I have emotions! I can cry if it is what I wish!" Malik sat in his chair and flicked his wrist. A fire emerged from the dry wood in the hearth, springing up in small, soft flames. His jaw tightened as Bakura raised his eyebrows at the weak fire. "But you," Yami ranted, "you were too proud to give a damn! You're too proud to show that you're a human!" He threw himself on his back and stared moodily up at the ceiling. Malik ran his finger over the rim of his cup, staring at the flames mutely.
- "You're lucky that Anzu has accepted that cruel, self-centered part of you or you would never be able to break the curse." -
- "Some night...If I feel like it...Can I come up here? To you?" -
- "So, how about it, Anzu? Would you be willing to dance with me some day?"
"...Yes, of course I would."
"I'll keep you to that promise." -
- "We're leaving tonight and taking Anzu home. It's where she belongs." -
- "I can't stand the thought of leaving you, Malik!" -
A dull thunk sounded as Malik's glass hit the floor. Bakura turned his head slightly and pursed his lips, seeing Malik bent over, his head buried in his hands. He didn't ask him questions or even speak. He stood and moved to him, clapping Malik on the shoulder, squeezing it a bit. "She's better off, Malik," Bakura quietly assured him. Malik didn't answer. Bakura's usually hard face softened slightly in concern, feeling the tremble of his friend's shoulder beneath his hand. He glanced at Yami, who was watching it with a drawn expression. Seeing Bakura look at him, he sighed and turned his back to them.
Dammit, Malik cursed in his mind, this is all your fault, Seto! He clenched his eyes tight, angry at the tears that spilled from beneath his lids. Anzu...I love you. I wish I had told you. I wish you knew.
X
When Anzu returned, her heart was heavy. A few villagers that Anzu knew and liked came to her house and asked worried questions, none of them she could bring herself to answer.
"Where were you?"
"What happened?"
"Are you well?"
"Did you get kidnapped?"
"Were you hurt?"
"People, people!" Jou called over them. "Come on, she's tired. Give her a break, why don't ya? You can ask her questions after she's rested up and stuff." They gave a reluctant grumble, but left, two women giving Anzu hugs before they left. Jou let out a breath of relief, shutting the door against the chill air. He turned to Anzu and felt the smile he had on his face drop. There was no expression on her fair features that suggested happiness at being home. "Anzu..." Jou went to her and hugged her.
"I'll never see him again," she whimpered. "I never got to say goodbye or that I loved him or..."
"Shh," he soothed. "I'm sure he knew." She sniffed, burying her face in his shoulder. Shizuka sighed a bit and he glanced at her. He knew she didn't like any of the people at the castle, but Anzu was attached to them and nothing could be done about that, especially since her heart was set on Malik. Shizuka had never felt love and though Jou hadn't before either, he knew that, if Anzu was crying so heavily, it was hurting her bad to be cut from Malik. "Let's get you settled in, alright, Anzu?" He suggested quietly, smiling at her as he pulled her from him. She nodded feebly.
X
Shizuka raised her head as Jounouchi entered the door, munching on a muffin. She slapped her washing rag down on the table, making him jump a bit. He sent an uncertain look to his younger sister, his cheeks bulging with a mouthful of blueberry muffin. Anzu had stopped meeting them after Jou came home from work, instead lingering by the stream in the forest. Shizuka loved her friend, but couldn't stand the reclusive nature that had taken over her. It had been a months since they had returned, spring only now returning.
"Jou, you have to do something about Anzu," Shizuka demanded. "She hardly ever talks with us anymore! It's like we brought home a stranger!"
"Well – " He began, but she interrupted him.
"I can't understand what's wrong with her!" She hugged herself, her mouth trembling slightly. "She has barely smiled since we've been home and she hasn't laughed, either. I wish she could just get over Malik, but obviously that's not going to happen." She heaved a sigh, raising her worried eyes to Jou's. He had swallowed his food, but looked as though he had lost his appetite for his muffin. "You have to talk to her."
"Why me?" Jou mumbled, heading towards his room. Shizuka followed him persistently. "Why can't Seiji?"
"Because Seiji is at a lost of what to do, just as I am. I already asked him. Please, big brother? I want my friend back." Jou sighed after he had set his burdens down. He rubbed the back of his head, frowning down at his sister. He had known it was a bad idea tearing Anzu away from Malik, but the mage had insisted that it was better for Anzu to leave. Jou hadn't completely understood Malik's logic, but trusted him nonetheless.
"Listen, Shizuka," Jou sighed to her, placing his hands on her frail shoulders, "you know I'm just as worried about Anzu as you are, but I can't do anything about what she's feeling. She misses Malik. She loves the guy. I know he isn't the nicest of people, but I also know that he cares – cared – a lot for her. It's going to take Anzu a while to be herself again. I'd bet anything that Malik's just as miserable."
"I don't care about Malik," Shizuka exploded irritably. "It's Anzu that I'm concerned about, Jou, not him! He was rude to me and he stuck you in a tower to get sick – have you forgotten that? I don't know what Anzu sees in him." She paused in her anger, remembering how tender Malik had been with Anzu when she had come upon them in the parlor. Shizuka knew she was only speaking out in worry now. Jou was right, but she didn't want to admit it. "...I can't wait, Jou. Please. Try and talk to her, at least."
"Alright, fine," Jou grumbled. "But not now, Shizuka. I'm tired." She nodded mutely and left her brother to shower and rest for a bit. She returned to the kitchen to clean, her mind otherwise occupied.
X
Anzu watched the waters rush by her as she laid on the bank of the stream, her cheek pressed to her hand, her other hand dipped in the water. She could see her reflection and had been staring at it for the past few minutes. She looked so sad. She needed a friend that understood what she was going through. No one knew what it was like to be wrenched from the only person they could ever love. At least, nobody she knew.
As she gazed at the glum girl in the waters, she heard footsteps behind her and imagined herself to be somewhere else. She came to the forest to be alone, not for people to seek her out. Another reflection appeared in the waters, this one of an older man with familiar, sagging eyes. It had never occurred to her, but her own expression and the one her father had held for the past ten years since her mother died were almost alike. She turned from the stream and sat up, looking up at Seiji. "Papa," she murmured. He lowered himself beside her, dropping down with a thump.
"Your friends are worried about you, Anzu," he informed her, not meeting her gaze.
"But you're not," she noted. He turned to look at her and gave the slightest of smiles. Anzu had never considered what her father felt after Sakura had died. She had been too focused on her own pain. After the pain had subsided, she hadn't noticed how hard Seiji had been struggling with his grief. It wasn't until a few weeks before she had gotten locked in the castle with the mages that she had noticed her father's unhappiness. She had tried to pass it off as something it wasn't. Now, as she stared into his weathered face, she realized she had been blind to how much he'd been suffering. "Papa – "
"Anzu, I think we both are at fault here," he said gently, taking her hands in his. "I apologize for trying to force you into a loveless marriage."
"...I wish I could have been there for you, papa, when you were mourning, but I – " She stopped herself, biting her lip, before whispering, "I'm sorry."
"All is forgiven, Anzu. You were young when your mother died, so I don't blame you in the least for being unable to see what was going on with me." He smiled, this smile stronger than the first one. "I know you think that you're alone with your problems, Anzu, but I know how it feels to lose the person you love. The pain starts to go away after awhile. It just takes time. And patience." She bowed her head and then pressed her face in his shoulder, closing her eyes.
He smelled of spices and brandy, just like Yami.
Her body started to shake as she contained the tears inside her. Seiji put his arms around her and a tear leaked out from beneath her eyelid. She wished she hadn't thought that. She wished she could forget about all of them just so that the pain would go away. She knew that would never happen, though. Malik, she thought to herself, crying silently in her father's shoulder. He doesn't smell like Yami or papa. He has this soft, soothing smell that seems like an herb. And when he kisses me, I can always taste the wine on his lips. She drew away from her father, wiping her face and looking from him. But I'll never get to hug him or kiss him again.
"All will be well, Anzu," Seiji gently said, taking her hand and rubbing it between his.
"Ahem." They turned to see Jounouchi standing a few feet away, awkwardly shifting foot from foot. "Um...Is everything well and good with you, Anzu?" She stared at him and then glanced at her father. Knowing that there was someone that understood her pain made her heart lighten a bit.
"Yes," Anzu assured Jou, smiling her old, familiar smile. "Everything's fine."
End Chapter Fourteen