Chapter 41

Gains and Losses

Seto Kaiba's secretary walked into his office and deposited a package on his desk.

"This arrived for you sir."

He waited until she had left before he picked up the package wrapped in colorful paper and a bow. He inspected it and found a tag saying, 'From Santa.' He had a sneaky suspicion who it was really from, but he asked anyways.

"Did Ms. Sung drop this off?" He asked over the intercom.

"I was instructed to tell you that an elf delivered it." Was the response.

"An elf?"

"Pointy shoes and all, sir."

She couldn't possibly have seen the smile that cracked his face. Now he was certain that it came from Anna. 'Great! Now she's corrupted my secretary,' he thought as he removed the bow. Under the serious metallic paper he found another different layer of paper, this one had little dancing snowmen on it. 'She just has to make this difficult on me. Let me guess, there isn't anything in here at all. What do you bet its all just layers of wrapping paper.' He decided to accept her challenge and peeled off the next layer. This one revealed pretty angels with harps, but more importantly it had a card attached to it. He opened it and read.

'What to get the All Great and Powerful Oz? He already has a brain. And he's proved he has courage. He even has a heart. So what could I possible give him that he doesn't already have or need?'

'Wrapping paper apparently.' Seto joked to himself.

He undid the next layer, he was certain that he had to be getting close. And he was right. It revealed a picture frame, and more importantly a picture. It was a black and white photo of him and Mokuba in the Roman Coliseum. Seto didn't even know she had taken it. He liked it very much. It was a nice casual picture of them. Mokuba looked so happy. Seto remembered how he was running up and down the steps and annoying the tour guides. He had a lot of fun that day. Inspecting his own image he realized that didn't look his normal gruff self. He did enjoy that trip, and it showed. Maybe not in a smile, but in other ways. Leave it to Anna to catch them both at such a moment in time. He flipped the picture over and found an inscription.

'It's not just a picture; it's a memory. Cherish the good ones. Love always, Anna.'

Seto propped the picture up on his desk and picked up the phone.

Meanwhile Anna the Elf was delivering other presents.

"Okay, but no opening them until tomorrow." Anna ordered as she distributed the presents. Joey shook his small box hoping to hear some clue to its contents. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You might break it!" Anna warned and Joey immediately stopped for fear of damaging something priceless.

"What about Yugi? Don't you have one for him?" Honda asked as he stuffed his box into his backpack.

"He'll get his tomorrow." Anna winked at the young boy who was standing next to her. Yugi scratched his head with embarrassment.

Anna's cell phone rang and interrupted the moment. She checked the caller ID and seeing who it was excused herself from the group. She made sure to walk a few feet away before answering.

"So, did you get it?" Anna said with joy.

"You're wrong." Seto said bluntly.

"I'm wrong?" She never liked to hear someone say that to her.

"It's not a memory."

"It's not?" She was beginning to doubt he liked it.

"If it were a memory you'd be in the picture too."

Anna's smile returned. "So you got me on a technicality. I couldn't be in the picture and take it at the same time."

"We'll have to remedy that." Seto hinted and Anna knew what he meant.

"But did you like it?"

"I wouldn't be displaying it on my desk if I didn't."

"So I'll take that for a 'yes'."

"Are you coming over tomorrow? We'll have a big meal prepared."

"You're not going to make poor Rosa work on a holiday are you?" Anna scolded. "Give the woman a day off."

"She has the day off."

"Oh, so you're inviting me just so I can cook for you?"

"I thought I would do the cooking." Seto couldn't possibly have known the shock Anna was in when she heard him say that. "So, are you coming over?"

"You know how I would love to see that..." Anna looked in Yugi's direction. "But I can't. I've already made plans."

"Certainly that won't take all day. Come over after you're done visiting."

"I don't know. It's kind of an all day thing."

"Are you telling me that you can't skip out early to visit your other friends?"

The idea was tempting to Anna. She never passed up an opportunity to be around Seto. But she had to set her priorities. "No, I'm sorry. I won't be able to make it."

"Since I won't see you tomorrow, I'll just have to send a currier over with your gift."

"I thought you didn't give presents?"

"I've been known to make exceptions."

"So what is it?"

"That would ruin the surprise."

"Is it a girlfriend for Googie?" Anna teased.

"I think Googie likes being a bachelor."

"Is it bigger than a breadbox?"

"Do you really want a clue?"

"Yes" Anna said satirically.

"It's something you can wear."

"A sweater?"

"Do you really think I would buy a sweater, let alone give one as a gift?"

"It's shoes! You know how I love shoes."

"No shoes."

Anna was a little more hesitant with her next guess. "Is it jewelry?"

"It can be considered that."

Anna was hoping he wouldn't say that, so she tried to get more information. "What if I don't like it, or I don't like the color? Can I take it back?"

"If you're not wearing it, I'll know your answer."

This was beginning to freak Anna out. She was praying that he wasn't going to do what it sounded like he was going to do. "I don't know if I've been good enough this year to receive something like that."

"You've been good to me."

"Ah, but you might change your mind after you see what I got Mokuba."

"What did you get Mokuba?" Seto said in a wary voice.

"That would ruin the surprise." Anna glanced over at the group, they a looked like they were ready to leave. "Hey, I have to get going."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm not coming over tomorrow."

"You know you will."

"I hope you're not disappointed when I don't show."

"We'll see about that."

"Fine live in your diluted fantasy world. I'll catch you in a couple of days. Bye."

Yugi wasn't accustomed to eavesdropping, but he made the attempt. He could tell by the way that she was smiling that it had to be Kaiba on the phone. He positioned himself in a spot amongst the others where he could see her clearly and he was able to pick up a word or two of her conversation. It annoyed and angered him to see her so happy to speak with him. He might have been paranoid, but in his mind she never treated him like that. After what seemed like an eternity she hung up the phone and rejoined the group.

Later that day the image of Anna speaking to Kaiba kept replaying in his head. He couldn't make it go away. He was trying to read her expressions and also to figure out what they had said from the words that he managed to hear. His imagination had to fill in the blanks, but what it was coming up with wasn't too promising for him. He couldn't help but feel that something was going on between them. Was it possible that she was cheating? Certainly she wouldn't do that to him. But then again he had no proof that she wouldn't.

The ghostly form of Pharaoh appeared beside him. His arms crossed and a stern look on his face.

"We have to do something or we are going to lose her."

"I know." Replied Yugi. "But what? What can we offer her that he can't?"

"I have an idea."

An idea was also what Anna had. An idea of what Seto was going to give her. It would be completely uncalled for. 'I've never even kissed him, so why would he think that I would ma...' Ann stopped herself before she went too far. It was unthinkable. Of course she would have to refuse. But it would break his heart if she did. Anna jumped as she heard the knock at the door. As she suspected, it was one of Seto's curriers. She signed and took the small box. It was just the right size for a ring. As she closed the door she felt her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She was so nervous, but she was also excited. She didn't realize until that exact moment that she wanted this. She was so fond of Seto; he was everything that Yugi wasn't. 'God, how could I have let this happen?' She asked herself. 'I told myself I wouldn't get attached, but look at me. I should be spending time with my fiancee. My Fiancee! Not standing here staring at a box hoping that there is or isn't a ring in it. Maybe I shouldn't open it. Maybe I should just give it back unopened and explain everything. That way I don't have to make the decision. But what if it wasn't what I think it is? Then what would he think of me? Damn it!" She threw caution to the wind and opened it. Upon seeing it's contents a tear rolled down Anna's cheek. Then slowly a smile formed on her face. It was perfect.

The next day Anna was in high spirits. Yugi noted that he hadn't seen her this joyful in a while. Perhaps it was the time of the season, or the good company? Or most likely, it was the story she was telling.

"My father's journals are so interesting; I'm having a ball reading them." Anna said as she talked with her hands, one of which was still gripping her fork. "I almost feel like I'm talking to him."

"Is he telling to any dirty little secrets?" Grandpa teased with a wink.

"I did find out something very steamy." Anna taunted him. "Did you know that my parents had an arranged marriage?"

"They did?" Yugi tried speaking between bites of food.

"Apparently my father was making it pretty big in the oil industry but no one in the region would deal with him because he was a foreigner. So one of his friends hooked him up with a sheik. And this sheik offered to help him if he married his daughter. Considering she was his only child, this guy must have really liked my father to offer him such a prize. So dad made the deal without even seeing her. They didn't meet until their wedding day, and he didn't even see her face until after they we wed. Can you imagine?"

"So it was love at first sight?" Yugi asked.

"According to my father it took some time. He thought she was beautiful, that he admits in his journal. But he also said that they didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things, at least not at first. He wrote for months about how small things would get on his nerves and how he didn't think this marriage was going to last. But it all seemed to work out. After a while they managed to get things together. He wrote a lot about how she could always make him smile. He really did come to love her."

"So there is hope for us." Yugi joked.

"I never gave up hope on us." Anna reached over and placed her hand in Yugi's. "I certainly hope you haven't."

Yugi smiled shyly at her.

"I'm so glad you two kids got together." Grandpa butted into the touching moment. "At least I can say I've done one thing right in my life."

Anna and Yugi both gave him a strange look.

"Your father was right Anna; our families did mesh well." Grandpa continued with joy.

"You knew my father?"

"I met him on one of my trips to Egypt. I traveled there a lot for my archeological expeditions. It wasn't very hard for us to find each other. We were the only Japanese men in the country that weren't there as tourists. He was a smart man, and very generous. And he could drink anyone under the table. He did it to me on many an occasion. It was great to have someone around that I could talk to."

"What do you mean that our families meshed well? Did you set up our marriage?" Anna asked with wonder.

"I didn't set it up personally, that was all Yugi's parents' doing. But I kind of starting things rolling." Grandpa took a drink before telling the details. "We were good friends and we would talk about everything. You're father was practically obsessed with the idea of family honor. He said that he wanted to give his children the things he didn't have, one of which was a good name. I mentioned to him about how my family was descended from Samurai and how respected the Mouto name was. I told him that you couldn't buy a good name with money, but he might be able to marry into one. Or in his case, marry one of his children into it. I didn't think much about it, but apparently he did. A couple of years later I sent him an letter telling him about my grandson Yugi's birth, and that made him jump on a plane for Japan. Before I knew it he was at my door trying to barter an arrangement."

"And my mom and dad agreed just like that?" Yugi seemed a little put off by the circumstances of the story. "I mean I couldn't have been very old."

"Oh, they didn't agree right away. They fought it. It took a few years, but eventually Mr. Sung convinced them. And here you are."

"I had no idea." Anna was flabbergasted.

"I'm still confused how someone could commit their children to a marriage. I mean, we were so young, how could they possibly know what we wanted or what was best for us?" Yugi wasn't angry, but he was visibly confused.

"I guess an arranged marriage worked for my dad, so he decided it would work for me."

"But my mom and dad?" Yugi questioned. "What made them change their minds?"

Grandpa was deafly silent and avoided making eye contact.

"Grandpa, do you know something?" Yugi inquired.

"Well..." Grandpa played with the food on his plate. "I can't be certain, but I think Mr. Sung offered your parents a pretty large dowry."

"They sold me?" Yugi nearly shouted.

"You can't blame them, Yugi." Grandpa tried to calm him down. "We may have a good family name, but we're quite poor. Mr. Sung not only offered them money to make sure you were well taken care of, but also to secure your future. With their wealth you wouldn't have to struggle like they did. You'd be free to do what ever you like. They were just looking after you as best they could."

"Oh great, another reason to not trust mom!" Yugi snorted.

Anna squeezed his hand; "She can't be all bad. She brought us together now didn't she?"

Her loving smile tempered Yugi's mind and he resumed his previous jovial attitude.

A little time later, Anna helped Grandpa clear the table and put away the leftover food. Yugi was in another room trying to get up his courage. With a reassuring word from Pharaoh Yugi took a deep breath and went back into the dining room.

"Um, Anna, can I talk to you?" He said rather shyly.

"Sure." Anna responded as she continued to stack dirty dishes.

"In private..."

Yugi took Anna by the hand and led her into the living room. He stopped, looked around, and upon clearly hearing Grandpa in the kitchen he decided her didn't like this room. So he continued walking and came to a halt in his bedroom. Anna was wondering what could have possessed him. He was acting very strange. They sat down on the bed and Anna noted that he looked almost frightened.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Anna said with a smile, trying to calm his nerves.

"I know we've already exchanged gifts earlier...but I had one more thing I wanted to give you. I know it's not much...It's not even real...If I could afford a real one I would have gotten it for you...because you should have a real one...you deserve one...I not sure I deserve you...but..."

She placed her fingers to his lips to stop the rambling. "What are you trying to say?"

Yugi reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. "I wanted you to have this." Yugi looked at her face to see she was in total shock. "We've been engaged for a while now, and I thought you should have one."

Anna couldn't help but laugh under her breath. Yugi ended up doing what she had feared Seto was going to do. She thought that terribly ironic. She covered her mouth trying to hide her amusement, but it didn't work.

'She's laughing at me?' Yugi thought. 'She must not like it. I'm such a fool.'

"If you don't like it." With downcast eyes Yugi began to put it back in his pocket.

"No, it's not that!" Anna said reaching over and taking his hand, ring and all. "I just can't believe you did this for me."

"It's not much."

"It's wonderful."

The happy shine returned to Yugi's violet eyes.

Anna presented her hand to him, and Yugi slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger. She took a moment to admire it. He was right; it wasn't real, not even close. But it was the gesture that counted. Overjoyed Anna placed her arms around Yugi's neck and pulled him in to kiss him. She stopped just short and stared down at the Millennium Puzzle around his neck.

"Do you mind..." Anna half asked. She didn't want a repeat of the last time.

What he did surprised her. She expected him to move it aside, or even swing it around to the back of his neck, but instead he took it off. As far as she knew that disconnected him from Pharaoh. For the first time since they met, she was truly alone with Yugi. She enjoyed that kiss very much.

Seto sat in the living room of his apartment. It was extremely late. He had already sent Mokuba to bed and as a result he found himself alone. He didn't turn on the television or play music. He preferred to sit there in the silence. He had a lot to think about. Most of it revolving around Anna. He had hoped that she would have come running over as soon as she got his gift, but she didn't. He wanted her to visit today, but she didn't. Everyday since they came back from Italy he felt like he was losing her to this other man. And it was driving him crazy. How could he fight what he couldn't see? He knew Anna wanted him, just as much as he wanted her, but something was stopping her. Or more accurately, someone was stopping her. He had to find a way of freeing her from his control, and in the mean time convince her that she should be with him. He had to get her back. Just then a more devastating idea popped into his head. What if he never had her to begin with? He felt his heart sink as his eyes closed. But suddenly his heart was lifted as he heard a noise at the door. He turned to see Anna just entering the apartment.

"I thought you weren't coming by today." Seto said in the gruffest tone he could muster.

"It's 12:38am, technically it's the day after Christmas."

"So you came just to show me up?"

"That, and I had to try out my new Christmas present." Anna dangled her gift in front of her so he could see she was wearing it. One look at the miniature card swinging from string and a smile cracked his face. He knew her answer. She was home.