Chapter 18

Playing Ball

Yugi normally didn't come to Anna's apartment unannounced. He always tried to call first but today he felt like being spontaneous. He wanted to surprise her. She had seemed a little distant lately. She had been out of town for a weekend, and then there was that week before when she had an emergency to take care of. Yugi understood she wouldn't be available all the time, but even when she was free she didn't seem to want to spend too much time with him and his friends. He could see that Joey and Honda were getting on her nerves a bit. So if they hung out together without the others around, maybe that would make her happy.

He knocked. It only took a moment for her to see it was him and open the door.

"Hey, Yugi, come on in!" Was what he heard, but all he saw was a quick flash of black fabric as she dashed away from the door and down the hallway. He stepped in the apartment and looked, but didn't see her right away. He closed the door and waited. She then re-emerged from a back bedroom with a pair of shoes. Yugi was in awe; she wore a long black ball gown and had her pulled back with long curls draping down her shoulders.

"Wow, you look great!" Was the only thing that came into his mind.

"Thank you."

"What's the occasion?"

"It's a big gala ball up at the museum."

"Oh gosh, I wish I had known. I would have gotten a tux or something."

"What are you talking about?" She smiled and laughed a little as she sat on the couch and put on her black heels.

"Aren't you going to need a date?"

"It's not that kind of ball. It's for the sponsors of a new exhibit their unveiling. There are going to be a lot of big wigs there and I'm hoping to get a few business connections."

"Oh...How did you get invited?"

"I wrangled myself an invitation the last time I was at the museum." She could see a bit of disappointment on his face. "Unfortunately, this is going to be a sad fact of our lives, Yugi. I'm going to be hoping off to all kinds of boring events and parties just trying to convince people to do business with Sun Oil. It only looks glamorous; it's really not."

"You don't even own the company yet."

"It's never too early to start." Anna took one look at him and knew she had messed up whatever he had planned for tonight. "So what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"It's nothing."

"No really, tell me."

"I thought you might want to go to the movies, just the two of us."

That put a smile on her face. "Sounds like fun; can I get a rain check? How about tomorrow?"

"Sure." He still didn't seem to be too happy about the situation.

"It's my fault; I should have told you I had plans tonight."

"You don't tell me a lot of things."

That comment struck her to the core. She did keep things from him, and not just about Seto, there were so many things she didn't want him to know. But Yugi and his friends tell each other everything. "I guess that's my nature. In business, you don't tell everyone your trade secrets. At least that's what my dad always taught me. I'll work on it, Yugi, I really will."

"Anything else you want to tell me? Do you have another ball to go to tomorrow?"

"No, tomorrow I'm all yours."

The phone rang and Anna answered it. "I'll be right down." She hung up the phone and gathered her purse and shawl. "I have to go the car is here to pick me up."

Yugi escorted her downstairs and out the front door. Now when she said that there was a car there to pick her up, he didn't know she meant a limo. She waved to him as the driver helped her in the car, and Yugi watched as it drove away. He couldn't help but wonder if she didn't invite him because she really did think he would be bored, or if she didn't want him around.

Seto stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom fiddling with his bowtie. 'I'm going to sue whoever invented these things. It's impossible to get them straight.' he thought to himself. He finally got it semi-right and decided he had had enough. He slipped on his tuxedo jacket and shoes and headed for the door. He thought he had heard Anna come in while he was getting dressed, but he wasn't sure. As he entered the hallway he could hear her talking to Mokuba in the other room.

"I went to six schools in seven years. I moved around so much that I never had a chance to make a lot of friends. I've never had a pet either. You can't travel with them or keep them in your dorms. I've never even had a lousy goldfish." He heard Anna say.

"But you have some friends like Rick."

Seto fumed a little, he didn't want to hear about Rick. He turned the corner and was stopped dead in his tracks. He only saw the back of her, but he was blown away.

"I'm keeping her entertained, just like you asked me to." Mokuba proudly announced when his brother came into the room.

Anna turned to greet him with a smile. He thought she was breathtaking. He knew he should say something and the only thing that came to his lips was, "Stunning."

"Excuse me?" Anna replied.

"You look stunning." Seto tried to regain his composure.

"Thank you. You look fabulous in a tuxedo. Oh, but your tie is crooked." She approached him to fix it.

'She would notice that, wouldn't she?' He could hardly breathe; she was so close to him now. "I can never seem to get the things tied."

"That's because they're magic. Only women can tie them." She retied it and took a step back to inspect her job. With one final adjustment she declared, "There we are."

He walked over to a mirror and checked his tie's position. At least that's what he was pretending to do. He really had to take a moment to collect himself.

"Shall we go?" Anna asked.

"Not yet. We have one problem."

"We do?"

"That necklace won't do." He was referring to her ankh pendant she always wore.

"I don't have much else."

Seto picked up a box off of a side table and when he got near her again, he opened it. "We'll have to remedy that."

Anna was shocked. The box contained a huge diamond necklace and matching earrings.

"Don't get too excited, they're rentals." Seto explained.

Anna smiled half with joy, and half with relief. She wouldn't be able to accept such a gift, and she defiantly didn't want Seto to start giving her such lavish things.

"May I?" Seto asked as he pulled the necklace from its case. Anna removed her pendent, and pulled her hair out of the way. As he slipped the necklace around her neck she couldn't help but feel strange. She had worn that pendent since she was eight years old, and even now with a million dollars in diamonds on her neck, she felt naked. Anna walked over to the same mirror that Seto was at a few minutes ago and tried on the earrings. She marveled at the reflection in the mirror, she hardly recognized herself.

"It's gorgeous, but you shouldn't go through so much trouble for me." Anna told him.

"When you look good, I look good." Anna thought that was a typical Seto response.

"Thank you, anyway."

After Anna picked up her things and Seto threatened Mokuba to be in bed on time, they left the apartment. As they stood waiting for the elevator to come to their floor Anna couldn't help but observe, "do you think this is a good idea?"

"What's that?"

"The two of us riding in an elevator together?"

The comment instantly brought memories back of that fateful night which seemed to Seto to be ages ago. "I guess we'll have to take our chances. Or you could always take the stairs." Seto tried to keep a straight face.

"No way, not in this dress."

The pair made small talk as they were being driven to the museum. Seto was informing her of all the people they might potentially meet. He didn't appear to be too happy to see some of them. But then again, he wasn't a socialite. That's probably why he asked Anna to come along. She was a social butterfly and would keep the attention off of him.

Anna glanced out the window to see where they were. She wasn't familiar with every inch of this city yet, but she thought it was strange that the driver would be going down these particular streets. That's when she realized that they were going to pass right by Grandpa's Game Shop. She was glad the windows were tinted, Yugi wouldn't be able to see her. Not that she expected him to be watching for her. As soon as the Game Shop came into sight Anna started getting this slight pain in her chest. She thought it was just stress or perhaps guilt that she didn't tell Yugi the whole truth about what she was doing tonight. But as the shop got closer the pain got worse, to the point, that when they came parallel to the shop she had to grab her chest and crumbled over in agony.

Seto's reaction was instantaneous. One hand grabbed her arm to steady her, and his other hand ran along her back and shoulder to comfort her. "Are you all right?"

Anna was gasping for breath. Seto let go of her arm and was about to signal the driver to turn around, when Anna's hand reached up and grabbed his. "No, I'm okay." She said in a whispered tone.

"Are you sure?"

Anna nodded. The pain was subsiding and she was able to sit upright again.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I got this pain in my chest."

"Did you check your blood sugar?" Seto checked her pulse.

Anna couldn't believe it; he really was concerned for her. "I checked earlier, I'm okay."

"We don't have to do this. We can go back."

"No, it's okay; I'm feeling better already."

Seto reluctantly agreed but only under the condition that if the pain returned they were to leave immediately. He stayed right by her until he was certain she was doing better. Anna noted that he never let go of her hand for the rest of the car trip. He probably didn't even know he was doing it. She should have made him let go, but she didn't want to. He made her feel safe, and she needed that.

The Museum's banquet hall was filled with people, so they were able to slip in without much fanfare. Seto picked up two glasses of champagne off of a server's tray and handed one to Anna.

"Technically, I'm underage." Anna pointed out.

""Technically, we don't have to tell anyone." Seto replied. "Besides, you don't have to drink it. I've learned that just holding a glass makes you look important."

Perhaps Seto knew a little more about socializing than Anna thought.

From a vantage point on the balcony three young men were scoping out the scene.

"Who is that delicious looking thing?" One man said.

"Where? Which one are you looking at?" Asked another as they looked over the crowd.

"There. The one that just came in with Kaiba."

"Kaiba's got a date? This I have to see." Said the third man as he approached the railing.

"Kaiba's finally getting some class; he brought someone other than that annoying little brother of his."

"She must have cost him a pretty penny."

"I don't know, she doesn't look like any escort I've ever seen."

"That's because you pick up hookers, not escorts."

"There's only one way to find out, let's go ask him." And the three men made their way through the crowd and down the stairs.

On the main floor Seto spotted the men when they were on the balcony and grimaced. "I was hoping they wouldn't be here."

"Who's that?"

Seto gestured to the men. "They are a trio of wealthy brats. There families have lots of old money, and they find new and improved ways to spend it. They don't do anything productive, they just party all the time. And to keep up appearances they all have honorary positions on the boards of their families companies."

"Doesn't sound like someone you'd like to be friends with."

"Definitely not."

"Too bad, because they're headed this way."

Seto buckled down and awaited the fake pleasantries he would have to perform.

"Kaiba! We thought we saw you come in." Said the lead man.

"Haversham, I'm surprised to see you here, it's not really your scene." Kaiba said not trying to hide his distain.

"Daddy made a big donation and he wanted the family to make an appearance. And you know you can't say no to daddy." Anna could immediately see how full this guy was with himself. "I admit these kinds of things are really boring, but when you have such lovely things to look at, it makes it worth it." He was looking directly at Anna. "Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?"

"Reginald Haversham, this is Ms. Anna Sung." Kaiba forced himself to make the introduction; he didn't want Haversham to know anything about her.

Anna went to shake his hand, but he kissed the back of her hand instead. "Do you mind if I steal her, Kaiba? For a dance, that is?"

Kaiba knew exactly what he was trying to do, but he also knew Anna. He'd but his smooth moves on her and she'd bite his head off. This was something he wanted to see. "You'd have to ask her."

"Would you care to dance?"

"I'd be delighted." She handed Seto her glass and walked away.

As he led her to the dance floor, Anna tried to figure out why Seto let her go. He didn't like this man, so what was he playing at? The waltz started normal enough, he was actually a very good dancer.

"Anna, you are exquisite. I'm sure people tell you that all the time. But it's true." She gave a slight smile to thank him for his compliment, but she was little disturbed that he thought they were on a first name basis. "I have to admit that we were all a little surprised to see you with Kaiba. He acts like a stuffy old man. Can you believe we actually tried to recruit him into our group once? He is like us, young and rich. We're the only type of people who can really appreciate money and what it can buy. But it was clear that Kaiba wasn't in the same league as us."

"You know you're right, you are completely out of his league." Anna retorted. By his expression, Anna didn't think he understood her mean meaning.

"How can someone like that interest a radiant creature like you?"

"Mr. Haversham..."

"Please call me Reggie." He cut her off.

"Mr. Haversham I think you've misunderstood my occupation and relationship to Mr. Kaiba."

"Oh, I see. Then how much is he paying you? I'm sure I can make an equally tempting offer."

"What!"

"Perhaps he's employed you for an extended period and not just tonight. I might be able to buy out your contract."

A devilish smile came across Anna's face. "Which company did you say you were with?"

"Haversham Enterprises out of New York. Why? Are you looking for a position? I'm sure I could find you one. I'm sure I could find lots of positions for you." His hand slid down her back and grabbed her butt.

Anna swiftly removed his hand and stepped back from him. "No, I wanted to know which company I had to buy out so I could fire your ass." She turned and stormed away from him.

It only took her a few moments to find Seto. He was on the side of the dance floor. Seto had managed to down both glasses of champagne while he watched what was happening between them. He would never admit that he was jealous, but that's what it sure looked like to any observer.

Anna stood beside him. She was mad and didn't want to look at him. "You could have warned me about Mr. Grabby Hands."

"You didn't have to say yes."

"To him or to you?"

'So this how she wanted wants to play it?' Seto thought to himself. 'Another one of our polite fights.'

"You didn't seem to be too upset when Rick had his hands all over you." Seto snorted back.

'Is that what this is all about?' Anna thought.

"That's different. I know him." Anna defended herself. "And besides, he's gay."

"What?" Seto was taken aback.

"Yeah, he's dating the drummer." Anna smiled because she knew she had the upper hand.

Seto recalled in his head all the transactions he had witnessed between Anna and Rick, and he just couldn't see it. But maybe...he did notice that during those incidences, the drummer did look really pissed.

"But then again, the last time I talked to Rick he said that they were breaking up." Anna just couldn't resist. "And he asked me if you were available. He thinks you're cute and he likes the way you dress."

"You're joking, right?"

Anna shook her head at him.

Seto grabbed a glass from the server. He was going to need another drink.

Reggie rejoined his party on the opposite side of the room from where Kaiba was. He didn't seem at all discouraged by Anna's final actions.

"She is a fiery minx. I've got to have her." He commented to his friends, one of whom was on his cell phone.

"You've got to get her away from Kaiba first."

"He must be paying her a lot. She didn't even blink when I made her an offer."

"Maybe he's not paying her. Maybe she actually likes him?"

"Are you kidding, someone like Kaiba? You'd have to be stupid or desperate to go after him."

The third man was half listening to their conversation as he conversed on the phone. He covered the phone so he could talk to the others. "You really stepped in it this time, Reggie. Anna Sung is Sun Oil. You just propositioned the heir to the largest Oil Company in the Middle East."

"She's got money, no wonder she rejected my proposal. If money doesn't interest her, I'll just have to sway her with my good looks and charm." Reggie wasn't about to give up his pursuit.

"That's not a good idea," Warned his friend on the phone. "You touch her and you're jailbait, she's only fifteen years old."

"That's younger than the one you got in trouble with down in Miami." Noted his friend.

"Damn that Kaiba! He's always one step ahead of us."

"How do you mean?"

"He's got her right where he wants her. She's young and impressionable, so he takes her under his wing, teaches her the ropes. He introduces her to some fabulous people, takes her to some fancy parties, and before long he's got her hook, line, and sinker. And then he'll screw her, in business and in the bedroom. God, he's good!"

"You're just jealous you didn't think of it first."

"Hell, yes, I wish I had thought of it." Reggie thought for a second and came up with an idea. "But who's to say we can't turn the tables on him?"

"Do tell?"

"We spill the beans about Kaiba's intentions, get her to break it off with him. Then we'll step in and be her new best friends."

The other two agreed to the plan and they set out across the floor find her and distract him.

Anna was scanning the room trying to pick out familiar faces in the crowd. She knew that some of the local celebrities would be there. But unfortunately the only faces she saw were of Reggie and his friends as they came closer to her position.

"Oh, great! Here they come again. Doesn't this guy ever give up?" Anna was in no mood to deal with these fools. "Quick dance with me!" She said as she grabbed Seto's hand.

"What if I don't feel like dancing?" Seto wanted to torture her a little.

"You owe me."

Seto didn't want her to be around them any more than she wanted to, so he conceded and led her to the dance floor.

"Just because we're dancing doesn't mean one of them won't try to cut in." Seto mentioned as they floated across the floor.

"Then if we see them coming, you'll just have to dance faster." Seto responded by twirling her around twice. Anna didn't expect it, but she very much enjoyed it.

Seto noticed she was looking around trying to find the trio in an attempt to avoid them. "I'm sure Haversham had some choice words to say about me." He was curious to know what kind of slander he had told Anna.

"You could say that."

"Let me guess, he said I was stuffy and boring, and you'd be much better off with someone else."

"Something like that." Anna was wondering how he would react to... "They also think you can't get a date unless you pay for one."

"He called you a..." Seto couldn't even say the word, it was so degrading for him to refer to her as such a lady.

"He strongly made the suggestion."

"I'll kill him." Seto said under his breath. "He had no right to treat you that way."

Anna was surprised. She knew he would be upset, but she thought it would be about Reggie insulting him. Instead he was only concerned about her and her reputation. Anna gave him a few more turns around the floor before she decided make peace. Hell, she knew she couldn't stay mad at him all night. "You're an excellent dancer. Where ever did you learn?"

"I have..."

"My ways." Anna finished his sentence for him. "I know, I've heard it before. Why won't you just answer my question?"

"I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you my secret if you tell me yours."

"Which secret would that be?"

"I'll tell you where I learned to dance, and you tell me the whereabouts of this mysterious tattoo."

'Oh no, he didn't!' she thought. Then she got wondering if her curiosity would be satisfied if she refused. "I'm not certain that's a fair trade. The way I see it, my secret location is more valuable than your dance lessons. Perhaps you could thicken the pot a little and make it worth my while?"

"Always the businesswoman." Seto thought for a moment. "Deal stands as is. Take it or leave it."

"Would you actually have to see the tattoo, or would a description suffice?"

"A description would do."

"How much time do I have to deliberate?"

"Offer expires at midnight."

They kept on dancing a while longer. They were having too much fun. A ways into the evening Anna noticed that while they were waltzing, Seto was staring into her eyes. He seemed deep in thought.

"What are you thinking?" Anna asked, breaking Seto's concentration and causing him to break eye contact.

"You have brown eyes."

"All my life."

"I never noticed that before." Seto knew her eyes; they were the eyes that haunted his childhood dreams. Deep brown eyes that seep deep into your soul. He placed Anna in the role of the faceless woman from his dreams, and suddenly that dream felt more like a nightmare. Someone ordering Anna's execution only to hurt him? What evil could he have done that was deserving of such a punishment? And who would be so heartless as to execute an innocent in order to sentence the guilty? Was this an omen? These thoughts troubled him, but he had to brush them aside. He had things to do, and Anna was with him. At least tonight, no harm would come to her. He would make sure of that.

Seto did as he promised and introduced Anna to some of the influential people at the party. He was amazed at how at ease she could put people when she conversed with them. She drew them in with her smile and wit and impressed them with her foreign language skills and vast knowledge. He thought she was the best 'smoozer' he had ever seen. She was a natural at it. Such a talent would be hugely advantageous in business, and he immediately tried to find ways he might use her to that degree for Kaiba Corp.

As the night was drawing to a close, Anna was feeling a bit faint so she excused herself to the ladies room. She figured her blood sugar was going crazy due to the dancing and socializing she had been doing. The restrooms were in a corridor off from the main room. She turned the corner and came face to face with Reggie Haversham. She hadn't seen any sign of him or his group for hours. It was assumed that they got bored and left. She shuttered at the sight of him and tried to go around him, but he blocked her.

"Hey, I know we got off to a rough start." She just glared at him. "I want to apologize. I didn't know who you were."

"I believe you are unaware of a lot of things, Mr. Haversham." Anna's words were dripping with distain as she managed to squeeze around him and continue her journey.

"And I wanted to warn you."

"Warn me about what?" His words caught her attention.

"Who actually. Kaiba's playing you for a fool. He's going to use you and then throw you away like garbage. He's done it before, and don't think you're going to be different because you're a woman. He'll crush you like everyone else."

Anna turned around and approached him. "I think you got this all wrong. He's not playing me; I'm playing him. And you better stay out of my way or I'll stomp you into the ground."

Her words frightened Reggie and he was glad that she walked away. She was one bitch he didn't want to tangle with anymore.

The limo ride was quiet. Both of them were worn out.

"You look tired." Seto noted the fatigue setting in.

"I am."

"You're lucky, you might be able to get some sleep tonight."

"I doubt it, but sometimes it helps to just sit still for a few hours. Let my body rest."

"Tomorrow's Sunday, did you want to come over? I could have a nice lunch prepared."

"Sorry, I can't. I made other plans."

Seto tried hiding his disappointment with an affirmative mumble and nod.

The limo stopped in front of Anna's apartment building. Seto reached his hand over across the seat to touch her hand, but she spotted the motion and moved her hand out of reach.

She opened the door and started getting out when Seto said, "Wait, I'll walk you up."

"No, you stay in there. There is no reason for you to get out." And she blocked the door with her body so he couldn't slide out. "Thank you for inviting me. My feet are swore and I got my ass grabbed, but otherwise I enjoyed it. We'll have to do this again, but without the ass grabbing. Good night." And she smiled and closed the door.

Seto watched through the glass as she entered the building. It had been such a world-wind night and he was glad it was over. Just being around Anna was a test in itself. He never knew where he stood with her. He had this ever-growing need to be near her. When she was around he felt stronger, happier, and more reassured. And when they touched sparks shot through his skin. He couldn't explain it. She was important to him, he just wished she would let him get closer.

Just as he was about to signal the driver to continue and knock came at the window. He rolled down the window. It was Anna.

"You're a very good dancer, but I have to decline your offer. I think I'm going to hold out for something better." She smiled and gave a quick wave as she sped back to the door and into the building.

Once she was out of sight again he rolled up the window and signaled the driver. She smiled not because he was happy, but because he knew he was right. She said she wouldn't be by tomorrow, but he knew she would. She couldn't resist his invitations and besides, she still had on his jewelry and he'd be expecting that back.