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Chapter Nine: Meeting the Ishtars

So the bell rang. So Anzu waited for Shizuka outside the school.

Finally, the grounds cleared and there was still no sign of her. Not another setup... Anzu groaned inwardly. Was this Shizuka's plan?

No, it wasn't, as she found out a few seconds later. Shizuka ran down the steps with her books and paraphernalia. "Anzu!" She said when she stopped.

"Where's Yugi?" Anzu asked.

"I was getting to that," Shizuka said breathlessly, "Yugi left during sixth hour, and I couldn't find you in the hall."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I know you wanted to get it over with and stuff, but it didn't work," she lamented as they went down the sidewalk.

Anzu nodded. She looked up towards the sky. "You know what? I'm not going to feel depressed about it this weekend. Let's hit the mall."

***
They had just come out of a new store. Anzu had bought a sleeveless blue knit turtleneck and Shizuka found two cute blouses.

Heading past perfume counters and jewelry stands, a digital melody played past them.

Anzu set her bag on a nearby bench, and dug around in her backpack for her cell phone. "Hello?"

"Anzu, it's Mokuba." said the voice on the other end. "Where are you?"

"At the mall." She replied.

"You have to come home in an hour." Mokuba informed her. "You know Uncle Seto's new client? Uncle just called to say that we're going to dinner with them tonight. It was short notice."

"An hour?" Anzu checked her watch. "I guess so. Bye then."

She looked at Shizuka. "Dinner with Instant Enterprises tonight."

***

She got home around four forty-five. "We're meeting them downtown at six," said her cousin as Anzu went upstairs.

Five.
She modeled her new outfit in front of the mirror. The blue sleeveless, a pair of white pants, and black shoes with heels.

Five fifteen.
Homework. She listened to CDs as she scribbled down responses to science questions.

Five forty.
Head out. Her father was dressed in a black coat with a white shirt and black pants. Mokuba wore a red t-shirt and khakis. They rode downtown in the black Kaiba limousine.

Dropped off in front of an expensive restaurant. The sky was darkening a little and neon lights had come on in shops and café windows. There were plenty of cars, as this place was also quite popular. At the other end of the lot, there was a gleaming white limousine. It might've been the car of the people they were meeting.

Going inside, the restaurant was lit brightly. There was red wallpaper, red carpeting, and well-dressed waiters walking around. The diners were also fit for a movie.

"The Kaiba's, I presume?" A brunette waitress said, coming towards them. "This way, please."

She led them to a private room, where a long table was set, and five people were waiting. Anzu heard a faint sound of clashing metal.

A woman in a white dress and gold jewelry stood up. She had shimmering black hair that went down her back, and tanned skin. "Seto Kaiba?"

Anzu's father nodded. "Isis Ishtar."

"May I introduce you to Sha-di and Rashid? Sha-di is my husband; he has recently returned from a trip to Egypt." The man at one end of the table shook hands with Seto. "Rashid is our partner in Ishtar Enterprises." A bald man with a stern face shook hands with him.

Ishtar, Anzu thought, haven't I heard—

"My son, Malik, and his cousin Marik." The remaining two people in the room looked up from a fork fight. Marik grinned and gave Anzu a small wave. Malik merely smiled.

Isis frowned at the two boys, while Seto looked quizzically at Anzu. "This is my daughter Anzu, and nephew Mokuba."

They sat down as the waitress poked her head back into the room to announce that dinner had arrived.

The seatings? Seto at one end, Sha-di at the other. Going counter clockwise from Seto, would be Isis, Marik, Malik, then Sha-di, and Anzu, Rashid, and Mokuba.

Great. Marik and Malik right across from her? That was too much. Anzu tried to avoid their gazes as she ate. She almost smiled when Isis berated Marik for his manners, and Marik gave a not-so-polite reply.

*

Anzu had escaped to the restroom. She leaned against the door and sighed.

Overall the dinner had been good, had no embarrassing moments or awkward silences. Though... perhaps it was a bit boring.

Mokuba had definately been bored out of his brain, and had resorted to playing with his digital pet under the table.

Malik and Marik had had a fine time, poking each other and the people around them with various objects, ex. forks, straws, and toothpicks. She also had a sneaking suspicion that Marik had slid a few ice cubes onto Malik's chair... Ha, that had been a sight.

She scrubbed her hands to take up some more time, then went out.

And who did she meet but Malik. "I was just looking for you." he said. Anzu raised an eyebrow. "Come on."

Malik led her out to the parking lot. In the corner nearest the white limo was a shiny motorcycle. "Er..." Anzu said, "I'd have to go ask my dad..."

"I already asked him." The Egyptian boy answered.

"He said yes?" was the skeptical reply.

"Well..." Malik ran a hand through his blond locks. "He didn't say no, but Mom convinced him." He handed her a helmet. "Take mine. Marik already left, and he didn't leave his."

He swung a leg over the bike. Anzu got on behind him, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Malik gunned the engine and off they went, narrowly missing the white limo.

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