Closing the black, leather bound book and placing a long, equally black biro beside it on her desk. Sealing the padlock that held the books secrets from prying eyes she made her way towards her blue covered bed. Lifting the covers gently the teen Anzu yawned loudly before clambering into the cool confines of her sheets.
It seemed like only a moment ago that she had been revelling in the cooling bliss of her sheets, now they were warm and wrapped around her sweating body. She'd awoken once more at 06:00 just like she had every morning since she'd began to have her 'black-out' sessions.
---Dream---
Cerulean blue eyes fluttered open to be met by a nearly completely black scene that bore little difference to the inside of her eyelids. Royal blues and dark purples swirled into the infinite black that fell before her eyes. Her feet seemed to be floating in mid air but she was suspended, as though tide to some great rope that hung from some imaginary ceiling.
Placing her right foot forward to the left and steadily making her suspended way forward towards no real destination. However as she 'walked' forwards two voice; deep and husky, seeped slowly into her ears and grew steadily louder.
Both the voices she recognised, one rougher than the other which held a slightly more accented tone. "What do you mean by that?" asked the rougher but Anzu had never yet been able to make out the form of the figure and found it impossible to place his voice although she knew it belonged to someone she had encountered before.
"You know the answer to that already," answered the other, she could distinctly define the outer shapes of their bodies now, one with hair that flowed down his obviously male back. The other with his stuck up like the shape of a pinecone and his body more muscular and built than that of the other.
It was at that point, just as they were about to be revealed, that she awoke from her trance like state to find herself hot and sweaty and tangled in a mass of soaking sheets.
She yawned, grabbing a brush from her bedside table she began to hurriedly brush her hair as she made her way to the bathroom. Some minutes later she was completely dressed, grabbed her handbag and walked out eh door, locking it behind her. She yawned lightly, still slightly sleepy, but kept warning in the early morning sunlight. It hadn't rained in a while.
Having walked, and all the way round town and across half of Domino I might add, to the Ishtar Manor it was some, 7:30 by the time she got there. Starring up at the golden barred gate she went over to the intercom imbedded in the wall. Above it a sign was plastered to the wall with obviously very little effort, it was of centre, hanging limply to the right, the edges fluttered slightly as the early morning wind rustled past it.
'Opening: 7:45
HELP REQUIRED
If you are available from 08:00 to 17:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and can clean, cook and wash please come up. Minimum salary, 1000 yen, may increase during period of service.
I. Ishtar (It was written in a fluent hand, swift and curled forming the signature of one…)
Isis Ishtar'
The word 'ideal' and the phrase 'nothing better to do' ran through Anzu's mind like a rabbit being chased by a fox. Checking her watch she found that barely ten minutes had passed and it has only just gone 7:37. Her courses of action were limited, stay and wait in the unusually cold outdoors for another five or so minutes, walk up to the mansion to talk to Isis and then go for the interview, go and come back alter or just go home and forget about the whole thing.
Deciding that she'd rather have a decent conversation with another woman, than sit around at her house all day in the immense silence and slightly stuffy atmosphere of her upper floor, she pressed the little, golden button and heard a faint buzz and a crackle as the electronics within fizzed into life. She waited for two or three minutes, she wasn't really counting, before pressing again and holding it down, prolonging the annoying buzz that rang through her ears like a bell.
Finally getting annoyed by the vibration of an electrically charged gong she removed her finger and leaned casually against the wall beside the contraption. She was just about to give up and come back later when a little ping came from the round, crossed barred speaker that sat, un-movingly, above the golden button.
There was a shuffling noise and the sound of random object being hastily pushed aside in someones un-collected haste. "Isis, Ishtar, how may I help you?" came a voice that Anzu hardly recognised, had it not been for the state of her name Anzu would not have believed this to be Isis, it appeared she was not the only one who had changed.
She pressed the annoying golden button and said clearly, "My name is Anzu Mazaki, I'd like to apply for you job application?" she glanced at her watch to find that in her boredom time had past her by and it was now ten to eight, a time at which she was usually curled up in bed.
"Ah yes, please come right up, a man will meet you at the door," came her voice after the resounding 'ping', like the sound you get when you hit a triangle.
The noise of ancient hinges, un-oiled and rusted, finally being put to use made Anzu's ears hurt, it was as if someone was scrapping overly long nails down a black board, or some dieing animal crying out at a pitch that was unnaturally high. The golden bars, flecked with dust, dirt, chipped paint work and a little rust swung aside admitting her entrance.
It wasn't a long walk, unlike the Kaiba mansion where you hat to be met by a car to drive you all the way there.
The gravel was obviously new, or at least not as old and un-kept as the gates, shining with dew, the little pebbles gave a satisfying crunch under her boot covered feet. Some flew to her sides after being hit at odd angles, but she had little time to indulge in the childish pleasures of kicking tiny bits of gravel. Sooner than she had expected she was standing before a large, open at that, oaken door.
"Anzu Mazaki?" a deep, resonating voice inquired that made her look up startled only to be met by the stern, half tattooed, face of Rishid.
"Hai," she answered not really paying attention as she scanned what little of the, large seeming, front hall she could see.
"Please follow me," he muttered noting with distain her obvious lack of awareness towards her current situation. Hearing but not really concentrating on him fully she followed his broad form through the hall, her eyes admiring the many elegant and authentic Egyptian Artefacts that lined the walls in glass coated cases.
Minute and well-carved crystals hung on wires from, what appeared to be, golden chandeliers. Due to the darkened skies of this particularly droopy day the lights had been turned on, the light reflecting through the crystal causing the light the split and rainbows flow over the walls.
The large, deep purple, rich velvet curtain drapes were pulled across five, floor to ceiling, windows that lined the hall that lead off the front hall with doors leading to all different places.
It was only when Rishid's voice managed to cut through her thoughts after the second time of trying that she looked to find them having stopped at the end of the hall. "In here please," he said, opening a large door made of Birchwood and gesturing her inside with his hand.
Nodding her thanks she stepped past him, through the arched doorway and into what appeared to be a library. Rounded, metre high shelves radiated from a central point in the centre of the room. Two lines, symmetric to each other, had been cut through the book cases in a 180° line leaving her pathway clear to a large rosewood table, circular and about 3 metres in diameter.
At one of the seats, with her back to her, sat what was presumably Isis, her hair almost long enough to sit on but still jet black and impeccably straight. Moving swiftly towards her Anzu cleared her throat as she neared the figure bent over the table.
Rising slowly Isis turned around in her seat to gaze warmly at Anzu as she moved into a position where it was easier for Isis's eyes to fall upon her. "You're Mazaki, Anzu I presume?" she asked politely smiling gently as she waved at the seat beside her in an obvious gesture to sit down.
"Hai Ishtar-sama," Anzu replied, using a term of courtesy rather than to set a bad impression by a appearing to be so bold as to call her by her first name lest she did not recognise her.
"May I just inquire, are you the same Anzu Mazaki that I met during Kaiba-san's Battle City?" she asked, so she did remember her.
"Hai Ishtar-sama, that was me," Anzu replied lacing her fingers together and layer her hands on the desk.
"You can call me Isis, there is no need for such formalities between friends," Isis said smiling and Anzu smiled back, although she saw no reason to voice a reply.
"So Anzu," Isis said looking down at her pieces of paper before glancing back up to stare the brunette in the eyes, "you wish to apply for the job?"
"Yes Isis, it would be a real help," Anzu replied sighing slightly.
"Yes well, I'm not going to bother with the interview and I'm just going to skip forward to the last bit," Isis said smiling nervously but as Anzu raised a critical eyebrow it fell completely leaving an obviously distraught face.
"What's wrong?" Anzu asked, her cerulean eyes boring into Isis' own.
"Well…it's just that all those who have applied before have all run out screaming, crying or in obvious distress," Isis explained through slightly clenched teach, sighing heavily in worry.
"Well I've been through a lot so have a go," Anzu said drearily, she drew her fingers from one another and spread her fingers in order to examine her nails that much better.
"Alright then," Isis said rising from her seat and went to the door, she exited and closed it carefully. There was a loud, high-pitched sound muffled by the overly thick door. The sound of overhead stomping and more muffled cries, lower than that of, what was presumably, Isis.
The door was slammed open; Anzu winced as part of the delicate white paintwork was chipped, as was the polish on the wooden door. Unclenching her screwing up eyelids her blue eyes swam from a vague blur into instant focus. In the doorway, a boy, taller than Isis, stood; he didn't look too much older than herself; three years at most. Beach blonde hair cropped to hang just below his shoulders in little clumps with bright lavender eyes flaming with some inner anger. He was quite handsome with his tall, well built stature and the way his bangs fell lightly over his lively eyes. Then it struck her, this was Malik, a twenty-year-old Malik to be precise, and he had grown some, Anzu remembered him as a skinny, scrawny looking boy with messy hair, dark eyes and virtually no muscle what so ever.
"Isis I refuse to let you hire some cheep whore looking for money," he complained looking over his shoulder at his sister who was shaking her head. Turning his head back to her, his eyes gave her a scrutinizing glance as he strode towards her. Placing his hands on the table, palms down on the tabletop her leaned his weight on them and glared into her eyes.
Suddenly they widened and two golden brown eyebrows rose slightly, "Well if it isn't the pathetic, little, friendship preaching Pharaoh's whore."
"I'm eighteen now Malik, I've heard worse than that," she replied, slightly angry as he openly insulted her but what she had said was true and it really didn't matter what he thought anyway.
He smirked, and this time glanced her up and down before straightening up and turning to Isis, still smirking he said, "Dearest sister, you will hire her or I'll do it myself!"
Isis sighed, relaxing and smiling, "Anzu, will you take the job?" Malik didn't turn around but Anzu knew he was smirking, and she had a funny feeling about what he might be so 'happy' about.
"Alright then," she said, smiling warmly at Isis and trying, not to mention succeeding, to pretend that nothing had happened, she wasn't going to let Malik get to her like that. Even if he was a very handsome, maybe even sexy, adult, who was probably very good at seducing girls like her who fell for charm and looks and charm and looks alone.
Well, it wasn't going to work on her, she came her for a job, she'd got it and now she was going to earn her keep, Malik didn't matter, he wasn't important, she didn't, as young adolescents would so kindly put it, fancy him. He strong, dark and handsome, but that didn't mean you fell for a man, you pass those kind of people everyday on the street and you don't start drooling all over them for it.
Seto Kaiba was tall, strong, dark, independent, clever and witty, he had so many other qualities that Anzu found alluring but she didn't fancy him.
"You can start on Monday if you like," Isis suggested smiling broadly at Anzu, thankful that not only was someone she already knew and could trust but she had taken the job.
"Actually Isis, since I have nothing to do and this house is in desperate need of a do I think I'll start today, if that's alright with you," she added not wanting to seem impolite.
"Oh you're a star," Isis said clasping her hands, her watch glinted and her face became a mask of horror when she saw the face. "Oh I am terribly sorry, I must dash, meeting at the museum and I'll be late if I don't go now, Malik, show Anzu her outfit and get her acquainted, goodbye, gomen Anzu-chan." She was soon long gone after her hasty goodbye that left Anzu with her eyes slightly widened and one slender brown eyebrow rose.
"After you my dear," he said teasingly in that charming, lust-laced voice of his bowing lightly and making over extravagant gestures toward the door with his arms.
"Don't mind if I do," she said flicking her hair and switching her weight t the other hip before walking swiftly out the door giving Malik a fleeting glance as she passed him. If he wanted to play his little games she wasn't going to let him get away with it, she had a few tricks of her own.
He began to follow, his long strides easily able to keep pace with Anzu's own, light and swift ones. As he came up next to her she felt his hand cup one side of her rear and squeeze lightly. She was about to turn to him and scream in outrage when she thought of a better idea, she swung her arm forwards, curled her fist into a ball and brought I back down…into his balls.
He gasped and doubled over in pain enclosing his groin with his hands as he bit his lip. Anzu half glared at him, trying to looks stern and not laugh. "Point 1) I'm here for the job, not you, 2) Don't touch me like that again, ever and 3) You hit, I hit you back. Now, where am I supposed to go again?" she asked fluttering her eyelashes.
Straightening up, breathing a little heavier than usual he wheezed, "You are such a bitch Anzu," he tried to glare but ended up wincing again.
"I'm not a bitch Malik," she replied calmly putting her hands on her hips and starring him straight in the eyes as he crossed his arms like a child, his expression clearly contradicted her, "I've just grown up since I saw you last, although I can't say the same for you."
"Oh whatever," he said flapping his hand at her and then beginning to lead the way again. He led her passed white and gold hallways, ancient glittering artefacts, great stone slabs depicting some part of the world's ancient history. "In here," he said gesturing to a lightly pink tinged room with the woodwork painted beige and creamy coloured drapes pull back by golden ropes.
She stepped inside; there was a full body mirror in one corner, a beauty stand with a couple of hairbrushes and small bits of makeup strewn upon it. This was all to her left and on her right, a pair of closed beige double doors spanning nearly the whole size of the wall, although this room wasn't very big.
"Just give me a sec," Malik said, "I need to pick out you're outfit but first I'll need your measurements," he smirked; this was going to be fun.
She raised a slender eyebrow, "28, 33," she said plainly, not quite understanding why he was smirking.
"Okay, but," she saw that word coming, "these uniforms have inlaid bras so, I'll need to know the size of these," he said cupping one of her breasts with his hand only to have it slapped away.
"Oh you'd love that wouldn't you?" she spat, getting angry now, why couldn't he just lie off? She wasn't what someone would call pretty, not in her eyes anyway so what did he want?
"I most certainly would," he said smirking from one ear to the other as her cheeks were stained delicate rouge as though someone had spilt a glass of wine across her face.
She turned away and gritted her teeth, "30 D," she ground out, the sound muffled by her teeth but decipherable.
"I'm so sorry," Malik, said putting one hand to his ear and cupping it, "I didn't quite catch that." This was very amusing to him, he was getting top torment the Pharaoh's crush, it was obvious she saw him as a friend and it was also obvious how much he liked her.
"30 D okay?" she yelled, her fists clenched, her biceps and triceps clenching, stretching the muscles so much it hurt and she was forced to relax.
"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" he asked as he strode of into the cupboard, Anzu gasped when he opened the doors, the thing was huge but before long Malik had emerged.
"I suppose you'll want to stay while I change?" Anzu asked coldly with immense sarcasm.
"If you're offering," he said smirking as he locked the cupboard door so she couldn't pick a different outfit.
"Well I'm not, so out!" sh said indicating the door as she snatched the ass of black and white from him.
"Alright, alright," he said walking to the door, "I'm going see, no need to bite my head off."
After he'd gone out Anzu whispered, "Oh there's need alright, backed up with plenty of reasoning, I could sue him for sexual harassment." It was then that she looked at the outfit gave it a critical look before putting it on.
A little while later, after she'd wriggled her way into the outfit, it was a tight fit, she gave her hair a quick brush before she looked in the full length mirror.
The top layer was black, with thin straps and the skirt fanned out tremendously on a horizontal level. Three layers of lacy white frill held the wave of black material up but covered her underwear. White frills extended from the sleeves and from them black arms pieces went down to her wrists. Long white shocks that reached to mid way up her thigh with two black stripes running round the top, the pair were attached to a pair of suspenders. Black, zip up, ankle boots with a one-inch heel covered her small feet.
Malik had been telling the truth, the top part of the suit where her breasts were was under-wired. The cut came low over her breasts and dipped between them to a small point giving the neck some shape. Anzu was left with two pin on bows and she couldn't figure out where they went, she didn't think the outfit needed them though. In her opinion she looked more like some kind of showgirl, waitress.
Just then Malik walked in and smirked, "Don't know where to put those I take it?" he asked making her jump and turn sharply. He didn't let her speak, just took the bows and went down on his knees.
"Malik, w-what are you doing?" she asked, stuttering slightly in her surprise.
"Putting on the finishing touches," he said as he pinned the bows onto the outside of her thighs. As he began to stand up he let his hand run up her inner thigh making her shiver and push him away violently.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?" she demanded angrily stomping her foot making the outfit, and affectively her breasts, bounce.
He licked his lips, they had gone dry at the site, "Until you run out of breath to say it," was his reply, he then proceeded to give her a tour of the mansion and her timetable. She nodded a goodbye to him and he went off, presumably to his bedroom.
Now that was long! Took 4ever 4 me 2 write that! ^_^ Thank-you to Candace for being my first reviewer adn thanx 2 Silver MSit4, Myatical miyuki, teafan123 and Darkness Falls1 for reviweing also. Luv u ppl and keep it up p&q!