a/n: not much to say. I doubt anyone cares what I have to say.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tetsu's songs or YuGiOh

Chapter 6: Tightrope

She sat in front of Kaiba speechless. As much as she tried to form words, she couldn't. It wasn't in her anymore. No one believed him. Anzu couldn't speak. Anzu was seemingly no where to be found. After the police detained everyone and found Kaiba to blame they let everyone go. Like a zombie stood from her holding cell and left without a word. From what Jounouchi muttered to Kaiba a few days later, Anzu was staying in Shizuka's place.

"Why are you here?" Kaiba bitterly asked Shizuka over and over again. She always shrugged and took his hand in hers. She was always sweet. Against her brother's wishes she stood by his side. Perhaps she did it for Anzu. Anzu was so confused and hurt that she remained silent. She remained away from anyone.

It's been four months since Honda's death. "It was for honor that he died." Said Jounouchi. Kaiba didn't attend his funeral. He couldn't. Shizuka did stop by and prayed with him in silence for Honda to find his way to heaven. Anzu went to the funeral. She stayed afterwards with Jounouchi, Yami, Mai, and Shizuka.

"Anzu." Jounouchi called out her name as if the name belonged to a ghost no one dared to name. "Stop this silence. Why don't you speak to us? Why didn't you speak when we said our goodbye's to Honda? Don't you think that's disrespectful to him? Don't you think he would want to hear your voice in his own funeral?" Mai tried to pull him away but his anger always got to him. He stormed up to her, only a few inches away from her face, his brown eyes darkening with anger. Once again Mai stepped forward to stop him but instead was stopped by Yami.

"Let him do this. Otherwise he'd do it at another time." He said in a low voice.

"Not in a graveyard! This is Honda's final resting place and you're going to let him fight with her like this?" Mai fought back, trying to get back her arm.

"If anything gets out of hand, we'll separate him. Just let them do this."

Anzu's hazy looking eyes drifted from Jounouchi's eyes to the fresh dirt laid where Honda was buried. Her eyes read nothing. Not anger, or regret, or even sadness. It held an empty void.

"Damn it, speak!" He slapped her on the face with all his strength making her face snap to the right. A trickle of blood slipped down from her mouth, her eyes covered by her hair from the force of the slap. Ever so slowly, she turned her face to look at him. Her eyes were steely cold. His own held the same anger he had before. His hand was still raised and he breathed heavily.

"What do you want me to say?" She lowly gritted out. For the second time, Jounouchi and the rest behind him saw the danger in Anzu. The way she looked at him showed no mercy. Had he attempted to touch her, there was no down he would be down in less than a second. Now that they all knew just who her father was, they had no doubt that it was possible for her to take down Jounouchi.

"Anything." He sighed out. He felt her cold stare threaten him. It was best for him to calm down.

"Fine then." Anzu wiped away the blood from her lip. "Anything." She breathed out and bowed towards Honda's grave and walked away. Since Kaiba was in jail, Anzu helped herself to his car, her only transportation and drove away.

"You shouldn't have done that, Jounouchi." He turned around to glare at Mai.

"I know. I just wanted her to speak. I was afraid she was turning out to be like my sister." He gave an apologetic glance at his sister. "I can't have that. Take care of Anzu, sis." Yami followed Jounouchi to the car after they all bowed to Honda's grave and said a silent prayer.


"How is he?" Anzu asked in a hush voice as if someone would hear. Shizuka nodded to her. A silent, he's okay. "That's good." She whispered and stood up from the couch. When Shizuka walked in, it was dark. Anzu was sitting on the couch with a beer in her hand looking at nothing. She looked like she was reminiscing, or mourning.

Shizuka turned on the news to see Kaiba on the news yet again. Before she turned off the television, Anzu stopped her.

"I want to hear." She explained as both girls sat on the couch. The anchor woman continued to say that Kaiba was set free on bail for now. The court date was in a week. His fate would then be foretold. Springing up from the couch, Anzu looked at Shizuka. "Did you know about this?" Anzu asked almost angrily. Meekly Shizuka nodded her head. "Why didn't you say something? Signal something to me? Anything!" Her eyes were mad. Shizuka put her finger to her lips. "He didn't want you to say anything?" Anzu figured out.

Why wouldn't he want her to know? If there was ever a reason for her to not know it would be because he didn't want anyone to know.

"Is he leaving? Is he trying to outrun the law?" Anzu once again figured out. Shizuka nor agreed or disagreed. Her head stayed still. Cocking her head to the side, Anzu tried to read Shizuka's expression. "So.." Was all she said before she turned around to put on her coat and leave the apartment.


All he needed was the essentials. Light clothes, good shoes, and enough money. No one could trace him. In a couple of years he could return. When he had the information he needed he would come back. The lawyers here did not believe him. No one seemed to believe him except for Shizuka or Anzu. But Anzu would not speak to him let alone visit him. For some reason he thought Anzu didn't believe him but another side said that she did. He didn't know which side he believe more. Did she or did she not trust him?

His suit case was packed. The police warned him that if he tried to leave they would find him. Little did they know who they were dealing with. It would take the police years and years to find him. Where Mokuba stayed Kaiba would go to as well. When he was sure he could come back, he would.

Looking around one more time for anything he thought he missed he was ready to leave. He walked by Anzu's old room. He would leave the house for her. There was no other place for her to go to. The very last thing he did before walking to the front door was leave Anzu a note saying that she could have the apartment. If she wished she could redecorate the whole place to not remember Kaiba. If that was the reason why she didn't stay in the place now, then she could change it.

Before his hand touched the door knob, the door opened. There in front of the door stood Anzu in all her mourning. Her eyes had bags under them, her hair up in a messy bun and she was clad in jeans and a black tight biker jacket.

"Going so soon?" She managed to smirk at him even though her heart was breaking. Nodding, he knew it was pointless to lie to her. She would know the truth. Anzu always somehow knew the truth. "Where to?" Kaiba shook his head. "Can't tell?" She stepped forward to close the door behind her. "Why?" Her back facing him to lock the door. Looking to the side, he saw one crystal looking tear cascade down her cheek. "Why are you leaving me alone?"

"Mokuba needs me right now. I can't risk being placed in jail forever. I.. " He wanted to say no one believed him. They didn't but he couldn't bring himself to say that. For some reason it made him feel like he was guilty if he said it.

"They don't believe you." Anzu finished for him. "I do." Her hand touched the hand holding his suit case. "You need to take several flights. Perhaps a few boats. Your people will take care of you. Lead you to Mokuba. If they hear any word of anyone coming too close they will inform you. You have ears everywhere." Obviously she went through the same ordeal. Looking up at him with a smile, her eyes twinkled with tears. "I did it twice. My father was always a paranoid man."

"He had good reason to be."

"So it seems." They both stood in silence, the grandfather clock in the living room ticking away the seconds.

"Goodbye." Kaiba whispered as he moved to the left to walk out the door but she blocked him. Shaking her head, Kaiba could see she was trying not to cry. It was hard to do this with her in front of him. A great part of him wished she didn't come. Truthfully he would be fine not seeing her before leaving. It would hurt less that way.

"Will you promise to take care of me? Even if you're gone. Will you look after me?" A bitter smile showed up on his face.

"No. I won't."


"That bastard is loose on the streets!" Jounouchi slammed his cup on the bar top.

"Are you out of your damn mind?" Mai yelled out.

"Yes!" Jounouchi answered sarcastically. "I'm a fucking maniac!" He then rolled his eyes and when back to watch the news. Yami stood by the pool table to see Jounouchi mutter under his breath. "I cannot believe he's out. The asshole is going to escape!" Silently Yami and Mai's eyes met and nodded, thinking the same thing. The hoped that he did.


He then looked away not wanting to see the disappointment on her face anymore." You have to learn to do this on your own. You have your own empire. Reconnect with your people. Have them protect you. Without a doubt your fathers empire will be more than glad to see you and protect you."

"They have already contacted me. I'm trying to find Honda's killers. Jounouchi doesn't know." Kaiba's lips were in a thin line.

"Nor should he know." He then muttered. "So then why do you want me to protect you?"

"I just want you to stay with me." Her lips pursed together. "I just want you to stay and help me cope like you have been before Honda died." Kaiba's suitcase settled on the ground and he hugged her. Kaiba decided to do something he did to his brother when Mokuba went away. This time it was a little different. He had to add something else.

"Close your eyes." Anzu looked up at him in question. "Just do it." After she did , he continued. "I'm going to let go of you now. Give me one last squeeze." Anzu did so, choking up on words she wanted to say. "Alright. I'm still in front of you." Anzu nodded her head, eyes still closed, her lips trembling. "I'm going to lean forward." She could feel his breath on her cheek. "Keep your eyes closed." He whispered. Fighting to keep her eyes closed, she felt his lips shyly on hers. Her arms stayed by her side. His own hands cupped one side of her cheek and he titled his head to deepen the kiss. Anzu swore she could hear his heart beating madly. Moving his lips away from her own, she felt his breath on her ear now. "I'm always by your side, Anzu. Even if I'm gone for a hundred years, always remember that." With a breeze that made her shiver, she opened her eyes to see Kaiba gone. Turning around she saw that the door was opened. So that's what he did with his other hand.

A small smile appeared on her lips. Her tears falling to the wooden floors. "My father used to do the same thing to be when I'd have to go away." She whispered to no one.


The night as late as it was, felt young to Jounouchi. The drinks helped cure his ailing for now. Shizuka stood by his side to make sure he came home fine. At times like this, it was better to walk instead of drive. Yami knew this. He sure as hell did not want to be in a car with Jounouchi because he would want to drive.

"Kimi wo tsuresatte mo ii no?(1)" Jounouchi continued to mumbled the song that has been in his head for the past hour. "Fuan na yoru ni tsutsumarete." Shizuka smiled at Jounouchi's attempt to sing. Yami held back a loud laugh. A figure in the distance made Jounouchi stop. His hand reached the back of his pocket perking up Yami's senses. Yami looked at the direction Jounouchi was glaring at to make sure there was no one they had to worry about.

"You bastard." Jounouchi slurred. Shizuka's eyes went wide and took hold of Jounouchi's arm. Yami now saw who he was looking at. Kaiba was walking towards them, his coat flapping behind him. What in the hell was Kaiba doing in the middle of the night on the streets? "You bastard!" Jounouchi's gun was out pointed directly at Kaiba's chest.

Unfazed by the gun he looked directly into the blonde's eyes. Yami and Shizuka backed away know if they dared get in Jounouchi's way, they would be the one's tasting the bullet, not Kaiba. Jounouchi was like that when he was drunk. Which made the situation all the more dangerous.

"I want you to know that no matter what you think right now, I didn't kill Honda." Yami immediately looking down at the ground not liking the conversation already. This was not going to turn out good.

"Go to hell." Jounouchi's eyes teared up at his friend's name. "I know you did. For what reason, I don't know."

"It was a mistake. He wanted me to tell you something." Jounouchi growled thinking that everything that came out of Kaiba' mouth were lies. With what sounded like a choked sob Jounouchi pressed against the trigger. Knowing what Jounouchi was doing, Kaiba said nothing awaiting for whatever to come, to come. Shizuka then pushed Jounouchi's arm out of the way in time and instead of shooting Kaiba, he shot nothing but the air around them.

"Stop it!" She yelled out, surprising everyone. "Please, stop it! Honda is dead! Let's respect our friend! Fighting about it would be something he would not want!" Jounouchi stared shocked at hearing his sisters voice. "Jounouchi." She cupped his face as he started to fall on his knees, his vision now blurry with tears. "Let us honor his death." Dropping the gun on the cold ground, Jounouchi hugged his sister. Shaken, Kaiba looked away from the siblings and instead looked to Yami to finish what he wanted to say.

"Honda wanted me to say that he hid his money in his apartment in the television. 'You guys are my only family' were his last words." Looking down one more time at the drunk broken man and his now nonmute sister, he walked away.

Deep down Kaiba missed Honda and his antics. He would miss everyone. But he had to go. He had no choice. Everyone knew it too.


Yet another chapter finished. The song Jounouchi was singing were lyrics from the title of this chapter. It's a good song from the guitarist from Laraku. Tetsu did a pretty good job as a solo act..