Chapter Twelve, Late at Night

A cloaked figure knocked on the door of Monsieur Julian's home. In a moment, a servant answered.

"I am here to see your Master." The stranger whispered to the young girl. She stared at them with glazed eyes.

"Please come in." She said in a monotone voice. She stepped back as the stranger glided in the household. She swung the door closed and escorted the stranger to Monsieur Julian, who was speaking with some men in a room.

"I apologize for being late, Master." The cloaked man murmured as the servant curtsied and left hurriedly. Julian glanced at him, his eyes not the normal bright cobalt.

"I forgive you. Sit down so we can proceed."

"Yes, Master." The stranger sat down along with the other men, ignoring their curious stares.

"As you know, Bakura is marrying my friend, Anzu." Julian began, gazing at the bit of brandy in his cup. "I won't allow it."

"It most obviously is a scam." One of the men spoke softly.

"Indeed it is," Julian told him, nodding, "that is why I need your help. No matter how convinced the ton is, we must make sure that everyone knows that this is a conspiracy. By all means, we must convince the Prime Minister, Isis Ishtar of this."

"But Malik and Marik Ishtar are steadfast men of Bakura's." The stranger murmured. "They have contact with their sister, easy."

"It does not matter, the siblings are not close." Julian said, dismissing the stranger's words.

"I beg to differ," the stranger countered, "Malik and Marik may not be close to their sister, but she loves them dearly. She would believe anything coming out of their mouths." An agreed murmur went around the room and Julian glanced at them, a corner of his lip lifted in a half snarl.

"Fine, Hathaway." Julian snapped to him. "What do you suggest we do then?" The elder man lifted his head, showing the mauve eyes glistening.

"My daughter won't fall for Bakura so easily. She's a stubborn one; we can manipulate her. She won't listen to me, but she will listen to you, Monsieur Julian." Hathaway explained. The other men were gaping at the man. They had not expected the rich, highly known lord to be involved in such a scheme against Bakura and Anzu's marriage.

"Perhaps," Julian leaned back, smirking, "but I have a much more surer plan. I'm not bothered about Anzu. She'll be easy to manipulate. I want to keep my eye on Bakura and break him while I still can." The men chuckled in amusement. Hathaway leered at Julian in endorsement, lighting his cigar, thinking over the plan. Ah yes, this will work quite well.

Anzu poked at her food, glancing at her mother, who wiped her lips dexterously.

"Mother?"

"Yes, luv?"

"Shouldn't papa be here by now?" Anzu cast a worried look at the fog and rain outside, her azure eyes showing fear.

"Darling, your father can take care of himself, don't worry too much of it." Sofia commented lightly, taking a drink of the sweetened wine. Anzu sighed and glanced down at the deliciously cooked duck on her plate and thought of who had killed it.

"Are you sure?" Anzu asked uncertainly.

"Yes, of course I am." A loud banging sounded at the door and Anzu heard one of their servants answer it.

"Madam?" The maid looked nervous. "Um, Lord Bakura is here to see you." Anzu felt her stomach churn in horror at Sofia's curious look.

"At this time of night?" Sofia inquired, her emerald eyes showing surprise.

"Yes, miss." The maid replied, shifting nervously. Anzu stood up, hurrying to the entrance.

"Oh, my!" Anzu gasped at Bakura's drenched form. "You look like a drowned puppy."

"Oh shut up." Bakura growled at her. "I didn't come here to get insulted."

"What is it then?" Anzu motioned the maid to come closer. "Get him a towel will you?"

"Yes, miss." The maid curtsied and hurried to do as told.

"Is there someplace we can speak privately?" Bakura asked, looking paranoid.

"Of course." Anzu took the towel from the maid and waved her away, handing it to Bakura, who shook his hair. "Bakura!" She screeched, feeling droplets of water fall on her.

"What?"

"Why do you think I got that towel for you!" She demanded. He shrugged and went in their study, drying his hair off.

"Because you're stupid? How the hell am I supposed to know?" She shot a dark look at him, before sitting down in a chair, smoothing her skirts out. "Anyway, I have this for you." He dug in his pockets and brought out a dry envelope with a stamp sealing the contents in it.

"How shocking that it stayed dry."

"Yes, isn't it?" Bakura grumbled, flicking it at her. She caught it and opened it eagerly.

"Why is the Prime Minister writing to me?" Anzu inquired, staring down at the parchment.

"I'm still trying to figure that out." Bakura grunted to her.

"You couldn't wait to give this to me until morning?" Anzu asked, watching him dry off.

"That's not the only reason I'm here." Bakura shot at her, glaring. "Your brother's at my estate."

"I beg your pardon!" She shot up, looking ready to tear him apart.

"The bloke was attacked." He told her simply. "He was coming back here for some reason, I don't know why. One of my men found him and brought him to me. He's lucky I'm so generous to have my physician to take care of him."

"You seem more parsimonious in my opinion. You did blackmail him, after all." Anzu pointed out, tucking the parchment in her pocket. Bakura shrugged and eyed her thin gown.

"I take it you feel more comfortable in your household and prefer to wear less?" Anzu flushed and crossed her arms, attempting to cover herself.

"Will you stop staring at me and get to the point!" Anzu snapped, her face going redder by the minute.

"I want you to get your demeaning brother out of my house, that's my point." Bakura said, pulling his coat back on.

"I'm not doing any such thing this late at night! And especially not in this weather."

"I come to tell you about your degrading brother's well-being and you won't do as much as get him off my hands?" Bakura's eyes narrowed in a menacing manner. Anzu felt her skin turn to gooseflesh, seeing his point. He had saved her brother, despite the obvious abhorrence he felt towards him.

"Very well, let me get my shoes and coat on." Bakura ran his eyes up her figure once again.

"Aren't you forgetting something else?"

"No, why?" Bakura shrugged, turning his back on her towards the fireplace, simpering to himself.

Hathaway stared at the weather and sighed. "Hm?"

"We'll want to hurry before this gets any worse." Bakura told the brunette, who wiped a droplet of water off her nose.

"Anzu, where are you going so late?" Hathaway demanded, jumping out of his carriage.

"Oh," Anzu hesitated, "nowhere, really. I just need to check something with Bakura, that's all." Hathaway gawped at her most obvious lie.

"This late!" Hathaway repeated.

"Well..." Anzu vacillated, looking at Bakura hopefully. "Yes."

"It's a very urgent matter we have to attend to." Bakura explained to Hathaway, his gaze not wavering. Despite his drowned appearance, Bakura could keep his pride well intact.

"But...Why this late? Can't it wait until the morning?" Hathaway didn't like the idea of his little girl running away in the night with this rogue. It seemed all too idiosyncratic and peculiar.

"No, it can't wait. Now if you'll excuse us, we have an affair to take care of before this weather gets out of hand." Bakura lifted Anzu up onto the horse. Hathaway noted what she was wearing a cast a suspicious look at Bakura.

Horny bastard...Hathaway thought bitterly as they rode off.

"Master, are you okay?" The butler asked uncertainly.

"Of course I'm not!" Hathaway snarled in his ire. "Does it look like I am!"

"No, Master." The butler murmured, ushering him into the household.

Damn that Bakura! How the HELL is the Master planning on breaking him? (MasterMonsieur Julian)

A servant held an umbrella above Bakura and Anzu's head, not that it helped them much.

"I'm soaked." Anzu mumbled to Bakura, shivering.

"Yeah, so what's new? I've been soaked for more than an hour." He griped, grabbing the umbrella from the servant and tossing it in the mud puddle.

"Master!" The man exclaimed tearfully.

"We're already drenched, a little more rain isn't going to kill us." Bakura informed him, shrugging. Thunder boomed and Anzu jumped, clutching onto Bakura's arm. He barely noticed as he kicked open the gates to his estate.

"Bakura, I don't feel too good..." Anzu mumbled, shivering. Bakura groaned, wishing he had taken his carriage to her home. He picked her up and hurried into the house, shaking off the water.

"Go get her something dry on." He told a maid.

"Yes, Master." She led Anzu upstairs while Malik and Marik strolled over to him, smirking.

"She looks pretty sexy, you lucky bastard." Marik commented, leering. If Malik had said that, Bakura would pounce on the opportunity to beat the younger male up.

"Whatever, I'm going to change."

The maid led Anzu, who was in a warm, dry negligee with a blanket around her, to where Duke was being held.

"Duke!" Anzu gasped in horror, letting the blanket fall. Duke was cut, bruised and deformed for put it lightly. "What happened to you!"

"Don't worry," Duke croaked, sitting up, "I'm alive, aren't I?"

"Well, yes, but, I mean..." She smoothed her brother's hair back. "Who did this to you?"

"It wasn't Bakura or any of his guys if that's what your thinking."

"Do you know who it is even?"

"No." Duke sighed. "I had to turn back because these men were chasing after me. Then, my horse got too weak and stopped. I was beat to a bloody pulp, Anzu, and they hid me! If it weren't for one of Bakura's men, I wouldn't be alive." Anzu gazed at him for a long time, silent.

"I suppose I owe it to him." She murmured.

"So do I." Duke sighed, smiling sadly. "I know how much he hates me."

"Well I'm glad you do." Bakura commented from the doorway. Anzu turned to him and remembered what she was in and inched her fingers to the blanket, snatching it and covering herself. "The rain apparently isn't going to let up tonight, so I had a maid prepare a room for you."

"I'm not staying here with a household of men!" Anzu exploded.

"You're the most ungrateful wench I have ever met." Bakura rumbled lowly. "When you're ready, tell her," he nodded to the maid standing obediently near the window, "and she'll take you up. Don't try stealing one of my horses to go home, you'll end up killing yourself." He turned without a goodbye and left them alone, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Talk about rude." Anzu remarked, lowering her eyebrows in disapproval.

"The Master shows emotions in such harsh ways, yes?" The maid inquired. Anzu glanced at her.

"I suppose so." Anzu kissed Duke's forehead. "I'm tired, but I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

"All right." Duke said, nodding. The maid opened the door and waited for Anzu patiently. Anzu hesitated at the doorway, before exiting the room.

"Follow me, please." The maid requested, going up the staircase to the room Anzu was given.

A clock down the hallway chimed midnight. Anzu wondered if everyone would be asleep by now. She slid out of the warm bed and opened the door, peeking out in the hall, looking both ways. She tiptoed down the corridor, peering in rooms every once in awhile.

"I don't see why you're keeping her brother here." A dramatic-sounding voice rose from a room. Anzu froze and peeked through crack in the door. She nearly gagged at the sight of Mai and Bakura in bed with each other. Disgusting!

"You have a cold heart, Mai." Bakura commented, swirling the wine in his glass cup.

"If you're trying to get on the good side of her heart, I do believe you already have." Mai nuzzled against him and he half scowled at her.

"You think rather lowly of her, don't you?"

"Oh Bakura," Mai sighed, "you're so obtuse sometimes." Bakura shot a sharp look at her. "No offense, of course!" She added quickly. "It's just...Can't you see how she would prefer anyone else over you?" Anzu wanted to storm into the room and give Mai a good thrashing.

"Perhaps, but she has no choice. Now that her brother is in my grip, I could slit his throat at any hesitation to marrying me." Anzu stumbled back in shock. A crash came from behind her and she winced, realizing she had knocked over the vase.

"What was that?" Mai's voice spoke up worriedly. Anzu felt someone grab her wrist and pull her into a room. Anzu turned quickly and Ryou put a finger to his lips as Bakura's door opened.

"Hmm." Bakura picked up the vase pieces and scrutinized the corridor. "Ryou!" He knocked on the door and Ryou shoved Anzu into his closet, closing it silently. He flicked the lights on and opened the door.

"What is it?" Ryou imitated concern and fatigue.

"Did you see or hear anyone out here?" Bakura asked. Mai came up beside him in a thin, skimpy negligee.

"No, all I heard was that vase, why?" Bakura eyed the corridor suspiciously once again, before moving his eyes back to his brother.

"No reason, go back to bed." Ryou shrugged and shut the door. He heard his brother say to Mai, "I think it's time for you to go."

"Anzu?" Ryou whispered, opening the closet. "It was you out there, right?"

"Yes." Anzu gave a sigh. "Thank you for covering for me, Ryou."

"It's fine."

Bakura pulled his ear from his brother's door and frowned. I don't like where this is going...

"When should I come back?" Mai asked, fully dressed.

"I'll call for you." Bakura responded, uninterested.

"Okay." Mai sauntered down the corridor, the heels of her shoes clicking on the marble. Bakura shut his door, locking it, deciding to speak with Ryou in the morning.

Anzu opened an eye and yawned. She sat up and glanced at the window. The sun was shining gaily, it's rays gleaming off the water droplets hanging from the objects outside.

Knock, knock.

"Yes?" Anzu called.

"Can I come in?" Ryou asked curiously.

"Uh huh." Ryou poked his head in, before coming in fully. He shut the door behind him, locking it. "Is something wrong?"

"Bakura isn't up yet, but I think he heard us last night."

"You mean...He might know I was spying on him?"

"Yes, so I think you and Duke should leave."

"I-I can't bring Duke with me, Ryou."

"Why not?"

"Papa hates Duke know. He'd show less mercy than Bakura would." Ryou raised his eyebrows in doubt then.

"I doubt that."

"He would!" Anzu bit her lip nervously. "Could you keep an eye on Duke for me, make sure he's safe?"

"Sure, Anzu. But I think you should go home now before Bakura wakes up. Come on, I'll have Marik ride you home."

"Okay." She nodded and grabbed her half dry clothes, following Ryou out.

Bakura woke up from the sunlight blinding him and he glared at it. He tossed his blankets off him and exited his room, storming downstairs.

"Morning." Marik greeted, wiping his feet.

"Where'd you come from?" Marik raised an eyebrow at his question.

"I just took Anzu home."

"You did...What?" Bakura whispered sinisterly.

"Ryou told me that you wanted her taken home."

"HE WHAT!" Bakura roared in fury. Marik flinched at his voice.

"I take it he lied."

"YES HE DAMN WELL DID LIE!"

"Hello, old chaps." Ryou greeted cheerfully. Bakura shot the dirtiest looks at his brother.

"Why did you have Anzu sent home?" Bakura asked, his voice calm, but his body betrayed his calm demeanor.

"She wanted to go home." Ryou answered casually.

"You knew that she was spying and you covered for her...Now you're saving her ass!"

"She actually has a nice ass." Marik remarked carelessly. The brother's stared at him, before Bakura shook his head and turned to Ryou.

"You can't keep saving her at each possible time, Ryou!"

"You shouldn't be sleeping with a whore when you're about to be married." Ryou countered.

"IT'S DIPLOMATIC!" Bakura boomed at him.

"Still, you shouldn't be sleeping with Mai when she's in the same household as you, Bakura. Do you know how offending that is to her?"

"I don't care, Ryou! I'm not going to drop my old habits and addictions just because I'm marrying her!"

"Then how do you intend on ever convincing everyone that you two are faithful to each other?" Ryou demanded. Bakura glared at him hatefully.

"I don't need any guidance from a weakling like you!" Bakura spat at him, storming up to his room. The slam of his door echoed throughout the whole mansion.

"You really shouldn't have pissed him off like that." Marik muttered to Ryou.

"He needs to know the truth." Ryou informed him calmly.

Julian sat in bed, smirking. Mai was laying beside him, sound asleep.

"So Bakura intends harm on Duke if Anzu hesitates? What a perfect way to turn her on him in an even better way. My Master will be pleased."

DIS: Let me clear this up to you. Julian is Hathaway's Master and Julian has a Master that he reports to as well. Is Julian a good or bad guy? You'll have to decide! Will Julian ruin all of Bakura's plans or not? Review and find out in the next chapter! Ciao peeps.