A/n: And now it starts to get a little more interesting...
Forever in Darkness: What Dreams are Made of
'.'...'.'...'.'...'.'
Anzu woke sometime in the night and slipped out of bed quietly.
Tiptoeing into the living room she snuck past Ryou and took the card off the table.
'You won't hurt me ever again!'
She tore the card in half and let the pieces fall to the floor, however they suddenly began to glow and Seto stood there in front of her.
She screamed and began to back away but he grabbed her and spun her around.
He held her tightly, running his hand up her chest and into her hair.
"I love you Anzu. Say that you'll be with me."
She screamed again but as she struggled against him he tightened his grip until she felt dizzy.
"I don't think you understand Anzu. I have to have you."
Suddenly they were standing in his bedroom.
Her eyes went wide as he turned her to face him and slowly backed her into the bed.
He never removed his eyes from her as he pinned her there, raising her hands above her and slipped them into a rope loop.
He lifted the rest of her body onto the soft bed and sat next to her.
"Seto, please don't. I know what you're doing please stop!"
She closed her eyes tightly as he sat over her.
"Seto…I know you won't really do this to me, please let me go. Please Seto I know you aren't like this."
He smirked as he sat there, staring down at her flushed cheeks.
"You do? Really? Open your eyes and tell me that. You really don't know do you? Open your eyes and look at me."
She slowly opened her eyes as she saw his hand snake it's way up to undo the first button on his shirt.
"Look at me Anzu."
She watched his hand slide up to her hair and grab a handful tightly.
"Look at me and I'll let go."
She finally gave in and looked into his eyes.
"Please let me go Seto."
He gave a sigh.
"You don't break easily I give you that. But I'm afraid I have to do this instead."
She screamed as she watched his fist come down.
But the name that she called out wasn't Yugi.
"Bakura!"
Suddenly the room was dark and smaller.
She screamed again as she realized it was Bakura that was pinning her down.
He held her hands firmly at her sides.
"Let go of me! What are you doing!"
He growled at her, stilling her instantly with the power of his ring.
"Holding you down so you don't hurt yourself! Are you awake now!"
She sat up as he released her.
"I was dreaming? That horrible scene was just a nightmare!"
He sighed heavily and stood next to her, staring down at her.
"I don't know what the hell you were dreaming about but you came very close to bashing your head open. I was actually losing that struggle for a moment."
She turned behind her and saw a mirror that she hadn't noticed before.
"I'm so sorry. I thought I was back there, that last night was happening all over again."
He looked at her curiously for a moment.
"Tell me something…why was it my name you called out?"
She looked away.
"I don't know."
He gently placed his hand to her cheek and she looked up at him.
"Try to sleep some more okay?"
Tears sprang to her eyes.
"I can't, I don't want to go through that again!"
She was surprised as he pulled her close to him and began to purr again.
In only a few seconds she stopped shaking and leaned closer into him.
He lay down and began to pull her with him but she pushed herself away.
"What do you think you're doing?"
He growled and glared, sending a shiver through her.
"I lay with you or I tie you to the bed. Take your pick because I'm fine with either."
She lay down quietly and he pulled the blanket up over them, wrapping a strong muscled arm around her waist.
They each drifted off to sleep, Anzu having no more dreams.
'.'...'.'...'.'...'.'
After breakfast the next morning Bakura walked her home to find the pharaoh sitting on her front steps.
He stood; taking defense suddenly as he saw that she was with Bakura.
"Anzu…are you okay?"
She looked back at Bakura and nodded.
"Bakura-san took care of him…for the moment anyway."
The tomb robber took out the card and gave it to Anzu.
She stared at it for a minute and began to shake.
"I don't want to Bakura. I want him to die."
Bakura sighed and took the card back from her.
"There's no way to kill him Anzu, not like that. Tearing it in half will only release him. I believe we must leave it up to the pharaoh to decide what to do."
He handed the card to him.
The pharaoh looked up.
"Kaiba is trapped in this card?"
Anzu nodded.
"It was the only way. He was going to kill me."
Pharaoh looked up at them suddenly.
"Where have you been all this time? I've searched almost everywhere."
Anzu flushed for a moment and Bakura looked down.
"I didn't think I should take her home right away…he had drugged her and I didn't feel it was safe to leave her alone."
He received a glare.
"And you didn't call? You could have left her with me."
Anzu looked away.
She didn't have to speak for Yami to realize that she would have said she felt safer with Bakura.
"So you could have called me but you chose to stay with him?"
She closed her eyes as he took her hands and knelt before her.
"I'm sorry. Anzu it was an accident. I swear it will never happen again."
When she spoke her voice was hollowed of emotion.
"It shouldn't have happened in the first place. I'm sorry too Pharaoh...sorry that I ever let Ryou come over that night. Maybe if he hadn't been there things would have been different."
He stood, releasing her hands and glared at a smirking Bakura.
"Thank you Bakura, for your help. I'll take care of her from here."
Anzu looked up at him and glared.
"Don't take it out on him because you slapped me!"
He took her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes.
"What am I doing wrong Anzu? Tell me so I can fix it!"
When she couldn't get him to loosen his grip on her, Bakura's ring began to glow and threw him backward.
"Don't you get it Pharaoh, there's nothing you can do. You were pissed at me and took it out on her, there is no excuse and yelling at her isn't going to give you anymore points."
Pharaoh sat up and stared at them.
"You're talking like you're perfect. I want to hear it from her own lips."
Bakura stepped past her.
"I have done many things good and bad, but I would never take out my anger on an undeserving party. When I was after you I didn't try to hurt her."
Anzu stared at him.
"Bakura...it's okay. Pharaoh, it's over between us. I know you're sorry but I loved you so much and then you hurt me. I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I want to be with you anymore and being around you just reminds me of how I thought you used to be."
Pharaoh stood and nodded quietly.
"I'll keep an eye on your house okay? We may not be dating anymore, but that doesn't stop me from loving you. I was only trying to help."
She sighed deeply.
"I know. I'm sorry...I'm just really on edge right now and I really don't want a repeat of that night."
He gently touched her cheek and looked into her eyes.
"It will never happen again. I was wrong and I'm sorry."
He paused for a moment.
"I'm not going to release him just yet...I'm not sure how we'll be able to protect you."
She nodded silently and watched as he walked away.
She turned to her home and slowly walked up the steps.
Closing her eyes for a moment she replayed the moment that Seto had grabbed her key and turned to find Bakura holding it.
"It's a good thing no one took this."
She looked around in confusion.
"Wait a minute...where's my purse? I don't remember dropping it and...My bracelets are gone too. That means..."
Bakura slowly walked up to her.
"Pharaoh will be no help to you now. You shouldn't stay here alone."
She looked into his eyes and for a reason unknown to her at that moment, shivered as his hand brushed hers to place the key in it.
"...Would you stay with me?"
He shook his head.
"I'm sorry. You're only asking me that because you think you've figured me out."
She looked at him oddly as he continued.
"You are not safe with me. If it suites my needs I will hurt you. I am not good, nor am I nice unless I must be. I've only been nice to you because it's convenient for me to be. If the sennen puzzle wasn't at risk I'd have no reason to be involved."
She stepped back, hurt evident in her eyes.
"You really mean that? How can you and Ryou be so completely different and still look so much alike?"
He growled at her, glaring.
"Do not compare me to him. He's weak!"
She took another step back.
"I'm sorry."
He growled louder as he watched tears come to her eyes.
Before he said anything else to hurt her he walked away, closing his eyes tightly as he listened to her door slam shut.
'I'm not good enough for you Anzu. I'm sorry, but I could never make you happy.'
Ryou's voice broke into his thoughts.
'I'm not as weak as you might think...and if you'd give it a chance I'm sure you could learn to be nice again. Have you figured out the answer yet?'
He only groaned and shut Ryou out.
'.'...'.'...'.'...'.'
Anzu opened her eyes slowly.
Someone was carrying her somewhere and the torches on the wall were blurred from the pace.
She found that she couldn't move or speak.
They entered a dark room and she was set on a cold stone alter.
That's when she saw who it was.
Priest Set stood over her.
He gently smoothed out her hair as he stared into her eyes.
"They're not an exact match but they're still as beautiful. By spilling your blood on this alter, I was bring my beloved dragon to life once again."
He pulled the sennen rod up to her view and pulled away the covering from the dagger at the end.
Suddenly a white blur dove on top of him and pulled him towards two other men.
"Mark my words! I will have my dragon again! She will live!"
As he was dragged off down the hall, torches lit on the walls and she was able to sit up.
Where had the third man gone?
She didn't see anyone...she was alone.
Suddenly she screamed as arms wrapped themselves around her.
As she was lifted up she saw that the man had been Bakura.
He carried her out of the temple, into the bright moonlight.
She dared not speak and he never took his eyes off her.
After a few moments of walking through the desert, he stopped and set her down.
Before she could speak, the sand below them buckled and caved in, dragging them into a hole.
They landed softly...in his apartment.
He smirked as he pulled her gently by the hand into his room.
"That was quite a ride."
She nodded silently and kissed him.
Her hands trailed to the buttons on his shirt.
He ran his fingers lightly up her back, sliding off her shirt as she pulled off his.
He kissed her roughly as her fingers trailed down his stomach to his pants.
He whispered her name in her ear as he made his way to her skirt and kissed her neck.
Suddenly they heard a knock on the door, followed by a familiar voice.
"Anzu..."
Anzu pushed him back and unzipped his jeans.
"Don't answer it."
He shook his head with a sigh and re-zipped his pants, handing her shirt back to her.
"Pharaoh might break in and I don't want to be caught in...that...position."
Another knock and she watched him open the door.
"Anzu, come on please open the door. I really want to talk to you."
She stared at him for a moment as Bakura disappeared.
She suddenly realized that she was dreaming and opened her eyes, sitting up quickly.
'What the hell was that about!'
She sighed as she heard another knock followed by a very insistent voice.
"Anzu...please don't do this to me. I'm worried about you enough right now. If you're there's please answer the door."
She rolled her eyes and stood.
"I'm coming, just a minute."
As expected Pharaoh stood there as she opened the door.
"What took you so long?"
She glared.
"And I opened the door why? I was asleep."
He looked down.
"I'm sorry, I was just worried. May I come in please?"
She mulled that over for a moment then stepped aside.
She closed the door behind him and watched silently as he sat down on the couch where she had fallen asleep.
"So what is it? Did you release him yet?"
He shook his head.
"Not yet...I wanted to know what happened first."
She closed her eyes tightly.
"You think that's going to make a difference? It doesn't matter what I tell you...you have to let him out."
He stared up at her.
"Why?"
He watched her clench her fists and jumped as she slammed them into the door.
"Because it's the right thing to do. Even though he hurt me, I could never administer that kind of eternal punishment. I don't want to tell you what he did to me, I just want to forget it and move on with my life!"
Slowly she slid down the door.
He approached her cautiously and pulled her up into his arms.
"It's okay Anzu, you'll feel better if you tell someone. Please tell me Anzu."
He gently pulled her over to the couch and held her tightly as she began to cry.
" I don't want to relive that. It was the worst fourteen hours of my life. And he made sure I knew exactly how long it had been since he'd taken me. In the car he tied my hands with silk ribbon. He said he didn't want to bruise me...I was too beautiful to hurt like that."
He smoothed out her hair and resisted the urge to kiss her ear.
That's something he had done in the past to comfort her, but he knew that would only drive her away now.
"He used some kind of drug that would knock me out and then he'd wake me up after an hour to start something new. He was trying to drive me crazy. The first hour all he did was kiss me and hold me. We laid in his bed in the dark and he told me that he loved me and he was sorry he had to hurt me. He knew pharaoh! He knew that you had hit me!"
Pharaoh looked down into her face and swallowed a lump of tears.
"I'm so sorry Anzu."
She clung tighter to him.
"After that he did everything he could think of to hurt me. But the worst thing he did to me...he told me that if Yugi didn't come, he would take me away forever. Then he kissed me so sweetly that I felt like I wanted to die. I felt like I was betraying you. And then..."
She looked up at him for a moment.
"Then Bakura came. Somehow he made me forget for a little while. Pharaoh...can you purr?"
He blinked at her for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't think so...I've never tried before. Why?"
She looked away.
"Promise me you won't be angry."
He sighed deeply.
"I'll try but knowing Bakura I probably will."
She looked away.
"Even if he was being the good guy for a change?"
He looked into her eyes and nodded.
"I promise."
She almost smiled for a moment as she thought back on it.
"I had a horrible nightmare and almost hit my head on the mirror behind his bed. He lay down with me and started to purr softly. I've never heard anything like it in my life and even though I was so afraid to go back to sleep, I did and I didn't dream again."
Pharaoh was angry on the inside...Bakura's intentions couldn't have been strictly platonic.
But then why had he insisted on her going home?
It wasn't like him to be so nice without expecting something in return.
Perhaps she had already given him what he wanted.
As she brushed her hair behind her ears he noticed bruises starting to form around her wrists.
"Anzu..."
He took one of her hands gently and examined her.
"I thought you said Kaiba didn't hurt you physically?"
She looked away.
"He didn't...I told you, I almost hit my head...Bakura had to hold me down until he could wake me up."
He stared at her in total disbelief.
"Are you sure that's what happened? If he did anything to you I'll..."
She stared cold at him.
"Just what are you saying? I'd pin Seto for that before Bakura. Bakura didn't hurt me either...not the way you're thinking. How could you! I don't believe you don't think I'd tell you something like that."
He looked away.
"I'm sorry...I just had to be sure. Why would you tell me anyway? It's not like I'm dating you anymore."
She stood and slapped him.
"Get out of my house and don't come back until you can genuinely feel sorry for that! I'd tell you, Pharaoh, because you're supposed to be my friend!"
He didn't know why he'd said it but for some reason he really wasn't sorry.
She was still angry with him for something he had done over a month ago.
It wasn't like he hadn't said he was sorry a million times.
He felt guilty, he was wrong, but he wanted her to forgive him.
Maybe it was because of what Bakura had said after words to him.
He stalked to her door where she was waiting for him to leave.
He looked into her eyes as he stopped.
"I still love you Anzu. Nothing in the world will change that."
Before she could speak he roughly pulled her against his body and kissed her.
Leaving her stunned, he left without another word.
She quietly closed her door and sat back on her couch.
'That's a lousy time to do that you know. You didn't kiss me like that a month ago to say you were sorry...so were you sorry then? Or are you sorry that it was Bakura who saved me and not you?'