(Finally, only two chapters to go. Heh, so sad to see this story end so very soon. By the way, thanks for the great reviews everyone)
Decision:
Anzu sat on her bed, gazing out at what seemed to be nothing. Just after the case of her drowning, Marik simply jumped to her personal affairs with Yami, humiliating her. But then again, she had it coming. After all, she had two-timed Marik with Yami, loving both of them equally. But in the end, there could only be one.
Suddenly, a soft knock pounded on the door. Ticked off, Anzu yelled at the top of her lungs. "Go away!"
But her demands were ignored as Yami stepped in, sitting beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Anzu, I know how difficult is to have to choose between me and Marik. It's okay."
"I can't believe Marik would play out my feelings like that." Anzu's voice shook. "One week…one week…"
Yami placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "Look, Anzu, I know within my heart that despite your decision, you have a reason to hate the both of us."
"What do you mean?" Anzu gave him a strange look. "I could never hate any one of you."
"Don't say things you know are not true." Yami looked away from her. "You remember the other day when you and Shadi went to town?" Anzu nodded before Yami continued. "I thought it was you who came to my room that morning. But before I knew it was Serenity, she was all over me."
"It's not your fault Yami. Serenity was using you so she could destroy me." She tried to reach out to him but he grabbed her hands and pulled her into a deep kiss.
After pulling away, he whispered in her ear. "Whatever decision you make, I will still love you, as long as you're happy."
[-]
"Marik you better get a hold of yourself. Give the girl some time." Shadi sat on the couch in the living room, staring into the fireplace. "I believe giving a few weeks is better than just giving her a week. Can't you see how difficult this is for her?"
"I think she had all the time in the world." Marik sneered at Shadi's comment. "Ra knows how long she had been kissing up that has-been pharaoh."
"Maybe the beatings have gone a bit too far, don't you think?"
"I'm her master damn it!" Marik sipped his glass of whiskey before throwing it into the fire, watching the flames roar with satisfaction. "It's different on a relationship between an escort and her master."
"But you love her Marik. You even proposed to her for marriage. You can't have this sort of thing going on when you love her, whether she's your escort or not." Shadi finished his wine, setting his glass on the table. "After all, you two are bound by blood, especially after that ritual."
"If you read the scriptures Shadi, both must be willing to give their own blood in order for it to work. Apparently, I doubt Anzu was willing to give hers."
Shadi stood up, placing a hand on Marik's shoulder. "Talk to her. Not how a master would do for his escort but how a friend should talk to a friend. A lover to another. It's really hard for Anzu to even wonder who she'll stay with. Just…just forget that she's your escort. None of this beating and corporal punishment. If you inflict any pain, it will add much trouble for the lady." He released his hold on Marik before leaving the room.
As he walked down the halls, Bakura approached Shadi. Shadi stared at Bakura for a moment or two before speaking. "How is Serenity?"
To this, Bakura smirked. "She's asleep. Out cold for the moment."
"And Anzu?"
"Still troubled. Did some casual talk but whenever I spoke of Yami or Marik, she would shed tears."
"Such a burden to be placed on a child so young." Shadi shook his head.
"Why don't you talk to her?" Bakura insisted. "You're her friend…in a way."
"This is not really my problem Bakura. Besides, I might end up giving her false hopes, something she does not need at the moment."
[-]
Late that night, Marik visited Anzu's chambers. Anzu was already sleeping, her body curled on the sheets, the blanket she clenched ever so tightly in her fingers.
Taking a lock of her hair, he sat on her bed, looking down on her. He shook her gently, trying to wake her up. "Anzu…Anzu-chan."
Anzu stirred in her sleep. Blinking a few times, she looked up seeing Marik. Sitting up, her eyes looked on at him for a moment before she spoke. "Is there anything you want m'lord?"
But Marik raised his hand to silence her. "Right now, you don't have to call me that."
Anzu nodded, still giving Marik a curious look. "Is there anything you want?"
"I was wondering if we could talk. Though not here of course."
"Where then?"
Marik then stood up and made his way out of her room. "Put something warm and meet me outside."
[-]
Ten minutes later, Anzu waited outside the unusual chilly night. She wore a jacket and long pants, her hair slightly brushed back, having not the time to comb it. She shoved her hands inside her pockets, her eyes looking up at the night sky. Cool wind blew against her as part of her hair blew against the breeze.
Seconds later, Marik arrived on his horse. His eyes looked down on her before gesturing her to climb aboard. Obediently, Anzu climbed on, sitting behind Marik. As soon as she got on, Marik nudged the horse as the two slowly rode off into the night.
As the two rode off, Yami watched from the balcony. His eyes were clouded with haze and confusion. As they disappeared from his sight, he released a sigh.
"It's hard as it is, huh Yami?" Shadi approached Yami from behind.
Looking up, Yami saw Shadi noticing the hypnotic gaze in his eyes. "You should know. It's easy for you anyway. You loved Mai. Hell, why couldn't you two just eloped and got married before this hell broke loose?"
"Things have to be the way they are. "Shadi approached Yami slowly. "Mai was willing to be beheaded to lift me from my burden of being a father. But enough of my torture, I came to talk to you."
"We got nothing to talk about Shadi." Yami crossed his arms over his chest.
"Miss Anzu." Shadi stared Yami in the eye. Yami breathed deeply, turning his gaze back to the view below him. Shadi stood next to him, sitting on the railing. "How are you holding up?"
"There's a side of me that wishes Anzu to choose my side." Yami closed his eyes. "But then again, I only wish for her happiness. It would not matter the outcome, as long as she is happy."
Shadi smiled at him. "Even for a former pharaoh as yourself, it will be very hard to let go if it does not favor for you."
[-]
Marik continued riding on into the night. He felt Anzu's arms wrapped around him, which made him, at first, feel slightly awkward. Ten minutes later, they finally arrived at their destination. He felt, only now, Anzu pressing onto his back. Taking a glance behind him, he shook Anzu gently as he spoke. "Anzu, you can open your eyes now."
Slowly, Anzu awoke noticing that they were at the park. Carrying her over his shoulder, Marik slowly climbed down his horse, tying the reigns of the horse to a tree close by. After feeding it a carrot, he settled Anzu to the ground, helping her to her feet. After they both were comfortable, Marik looked down on her, whispering. "Follow me."
As he walked, Anzu silently followed him from behind, her head down, following the route by his feet. All of a sudden, Marik stopped in his tracks, causing Anzu to nearly run into him. He took her hand in his, startling her. He tilted his head to the side, giving her a grin. "No need for you to walk behind."
As they walked hand in hand, he took her to a swing set. He sat her on one of them while he sat on the swing next to her. They both swung for a few minutes in silence. While Anzu started on at what seemed to be nothing. Marik's eyes watched her for the time being.
"Marik?" Anzu softly called out, though not looking up at him.
"What is it?" Marik reached out, his fingers twisting a lock of her hair.
"I know it's too late to say but I wanted to apologize about my feelings that I had for Yami."
Marik cringed. Yami was the last person he needed in mind, nonetheless the last thing he needed to talk about. His eyes shifted to the ground before up at her, his fingers gripping the chain links tightly. Saying to her his opinions on Yami would jeopardize her feelings to something unthinkable. Besides, Shadi had set some ground rules to make sure he and Yami did not talk nor try to approach one another.
"I want you to answer me truthfully." Marik stopped swinging. "What are your feelings towards me?"
"Marik, despite the countless beatings I have received from you, I still love you and in truth, as much as I have loved Yami. I just need some time to pull myself together to choose who I truly…"
But before Anzu could finish, Marik pulled her off of her swing and sat her on his lap. His fingers brushed along her cheek while his head rested on hers. "A beauty as yourself is truly rare indeed." He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. "No one in this world could love you more." he kissed her on her earlobe. "You will have many that will like you but only once could truly love."
After about half hour, Marik and Anzu had arrived at the palace. By that time, Anzu was falling fast asleep. He carried her to his chambers in his arms as if how a married couple should be. Laying her on the bed, Marik leaned towards her, kissing her on the forehead as well as her lips. His lips brushed against her ear, whispering darkly "Sweet dreams, my love."
[-]
The week slowly ticked on as Anzu lived in a cloud of emotions. Prior to Shadi and Marik, both Yami and Marik cannot speak to her alone due to a possibility of warping her feelings. They also had to drop their millennium items because Shadi was aware that Yami or Marik would use their millennium items to manipulate Anzu's mind and toy with her feelings. Bakura, when taking time off from training Serenity, and Shadi spent most of their time with her, trying to ease her from the stress. Rishid on the other hand had sent Anzu letters via pigeon, for he had now resided in the north, helping out with the bar.
The 7th day came by rather quickly. In the early mornings, Anzu had gone into a deep anxiety attack that it took Shadi hours to fix her from the trance. By mid-afternoon, an hour or so before the time came, she stood at the balcony, gazing up at the blue sky. Her fist clenched tightly, feeling her fingernails dig into her skin. Tears streaked down her face as she finally made her decision. It had hurt her dearly knowing that if she followed her own heart, she will break another.
Wiping her tears away, it was time for her to reveal the truth. Leaving her chambers, she made her way towards the courtyard seeing Yami and Marik standing there.
"Child," Shadi placed a hand on Anzu's shoulder. "It will be all right, no matter what your choice will be."
"I can't do this Shadi!" Anzu's voice had laced with fear. "I can't hurt him. I couldn't…"
"I know you can't and that's bad enough." Bakura approached the two. "But you can't allow yourself to continue living a double life."
Anzu nodded before making her way towards Marik and Yami, who were not far away from her.
Yami looked up at her. "Anzu…"
"Look…Marik, Yami…" Anzu stood in front of the two. "In my heart, I love you both and this is really hard for me to deal with. I never wanted to hurt either one of you in the first place but I know in the end, there could only be one."
Both Marik and Yami continued to watch her, their faces etched with worry and concern.
"An hour ago, I finally realized who I wanted to be with." She looked up at the two for a long time. "And I decided. The one who I really wish to be with," she pointed a finger at the one she wanted to be with. "Is you."
[-]
Boy don't you love cliffhangers? Well, tune in to see who Anzu chose. Until then, To Be Continued.
