The doors opened and they all turned to see Malik.
"Sorry I'm late." He told them anxiously, giving a weary smile.
" 'Sorry I'm late'?" Bakura repeated. "What the hell is wrong with you!"
"I was busy!"
"You were busy, were you! Why you little son of a bitch!" Bakura stormed over to him and Malik glanced nervously over at Marik. "You could've cost me a wife."
"Uh...I could've?" Bakura ushered him to sit down as he explained everything.
"...so, that's what happened."
"All of that in what? – less than twenty-four hours?"
"You'd be surprised." Yami grumbled, pissed at the whole situation.
"No! You see, Ryou and Duke told me about their situation before telling you, Bakura, and I offered to help them...Ah, level some things out." He paused, biting his lip. "I hadn't expected you all would take it so, er, seriously." Yami repeated his line under his breath. Malik glanced at him, partially glaring. "Thought I would prefer if you stop glaring at me whenever I'm near Anzu." Bakura pursed his lips. "Unless you still don't trust me." Bakura shrugged.
"I think I can handle that small favor." Malik smirked.
"Good." Anzu frowned, waiting for the signal she could leave.
"I think I'm going to leave now." She muttered, swiping at a curl that has come loose from her bun. Bakura glanced at her.
"Very well," he nodded towards the doors. "Oh, and Anzu?"
"Yes?"
"We'll talk later." She swallowed, wetting her lips.
"Okay." She opened the door and shut it quietly.
"Much better." Bakura murmured agreeably to himself.
"What do you mean?" Malik asked.
"Oh, she slammed the door the last she left."
"Ah."
"Well!" Yami stood up moodily. "If you'll excuse me, I, too, have better plans than to put up with this idiotic shit. Fucking people these days are as inhospitable as fucking gorillas."
"How out of uncharacteristic for you, Yami. You're normally smiling like a man who was living in heaven." Bakura grinned at him mockingly.
"Yeah?" Yami snorted, swinging the door open. "After all this fucked up crap, who wouldn't be pissed off?" He shut the door with a harsh 'bang'.
"He has a worse mouth than you, Bakura." Marik commented casually.
"Well, that's seemingly a quarter of Yami's truly bad side." Bakura mumbled, smirking to himself.
"A quarter?"
"Yes," Bakura glanced at the brothers, "I've seen Yami's complete bad side, and trust me, it's not pretty."
"I don't doubt it."
"So!" Bakura stood up. "Tonight we're going to a ball."
"Where?" Both asked in unity.
"It's on the invitation." Bakura told them, shrugging. They blinked, before shrugging.
"Figures you wouldn't remember." Marik grunted, sighing.
"Meh, I'll only go to see Isis. I have a bone to pick with her." Malik scowled at the thought.
"Might as well tag along with you two idiots, I suppose." Marik yawned, stretching. "I don't have much else to do, anyway."
"Alright." Bakura smirked to himself. I knew it.
Anzu fingered with the hem of her dress, her brows wrinkled in worry.
"Anzu, what are you doing here already?" Duke exclaimed as he and Ryou entered the house.
"Oh," she sighed. "I'm waiting for Bakura do get home. He wanted to talk with me."
"I see. But that doesn't precisely answer my question."
"I met up with him at his casino and..." she sighed again, lowering her eyes. "I feel horrible for what I did to him."
"Did you two get in a fight?" Ryou queried. She nodded, her eyes still downcast. "Oh my, what happened?"
"It wasn't a normal...Normal verbal fight. We were wrestling each other on the stairs."
"Oh dear."
"Yes." Anzu stood up, hearing voices outside. "Tell Bakura that I'm in my room, will you?"
"Of course, Anzu." Ryou nodded to her, offering a small smile as she hastily ascended the stairs.
"I'll kill him!" Duke snarled immediately after she was on the other floor.
"Duke, they must've made up if Bakura let her come home." Ryou informed him. "I think it's best that we simply let it ride out. If Bakura causes anymore trouble later when they "talk", then go ahead and be my guest." He paused. "I hate seeing Anzu so disheartened like this." Duke eyed him suspiciously.
"Are you sure you're not straight?" Ryou whirled on him.
"No, I'm gay. I wouldn't have done...that with you in the carriage."
"Hm, true."
"Anzu's like a sister to me. I really don't like the thought of her and my brother together."
"So I noticed."
"...about two weeks, I'm guessing." Malik was saying as the three males entered.
"Where's Anzu?" Bakura asked, his brow furrowing.
"She's up in her room." Ryou told him. "She was really upset, Bakura. I think you should do something."
"Do something?" Bakura snorted. "The woman can take care of her own depression. I'm going to have a few words with her. And they don't involve sympathizing." Ryou frowned at him.
"Maybe you should," Malik suggested. "If she's upset now, then she most likely will be at the ball as well. It wouldn't do well for your guys' courtship to be, ah, hostile." Bakura glared at him.
"Dammit, I'm not a fucking saint! Someone else can go pity her."
"Well," Malik began suggestively.
"Other than you." Bakura shot him a dark look. "Ryou, you go do it."
"Why me?" Ryou asked, his eyes widening.
"Because I've heard that gay men can sympathize with women better than straight men can." Bakura grinned at his brother's expression. "Therefore, you can do the honors."
"But...but...She'll probably expect you to. You're going to become her husband, after all."
"Ah, yes. But remember, it has nothing to do with love. This marriage is just a set up so that I can get an heir and so that damn Will doesn't activate." Bakura scowled at that contemplation.
"Well, go do it anyway! If you two are going to be married, you should have to get used to it and fixing it as well." Bakura sighed, grumbling under his breath.
"I hate know-it-all's, you realize that?" Bakura asked his brother, who shrugged.
"I think I can handle the punishment." Ryou commented. Bakura swore, before storming upstairs.
"What is it?" Anzu grumbled, hearing a knock on her doors.
"Touché." Bakura mumbled to her, shutting the door behind him. Dammit, I am not a fucking saint!
"Oh. It's you." She sat up, nervously glancing at him. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I would have thought it was obvious."
"Not exceptionally."
"About your behavior today." He hinted.
"Oh...I said I was sorry."
"I am aware of that, Anzu, however..." He sat in the chair near the desk. "My question is: why did you get so worked up about Malik's disappearance?"
"Well, I can't very well help it, now can I? I've become close to quite a bit of people. If it had been Ryou, Duke or Marik, I would have reacted the same way." Bakura frowned. "Or you, as well." Bakura glanced at the quill that was lying near the inkbottle. He took it, twirling it in his fingers, before pricking his finger with it.
"Anzu," he sighed, "if you're distressed about something, you just have to tell me about it. Instead of blowing up in my face, you could calmly tell me."
"I'm not as cold-hearted as you are, Bakura." Anzu pointed out. "I'm a woman, it's not my fault that I can't stay tranquil like you." He shrugged.
"So let me get this back on topic...You just reacted that way because he's a close friend?"
"Right." She nodded.
"Hm." He set the quill down, raising his eyes to hers. "Very well, then. That's cleared up." Bakura stood up. "By the way, we had an invitation to Qualle Hall tonight. We need to be there at seven tonight. I expect that you'll be ready by then?"
"Yes." She paused. "Did we get that today?"
"No, some four days ago, or that's what your brother told me." She blinked and nodded.
"I see." She hesitated. "Bakura...How many invitations were there?" He shrugged.
"Enough to fill the rest of the month." Her eyes rounded.
"And we're going to all of them?"
"Of course." Bakura stretched, yawning. "I have some things to take care of."
"All right." He nodded a goodbye and left. Her eyes slid along the room, before she sighed, dropping on her bed. "I'm exhausted. A nap wouldn't hurt."
"Anzu!" Bakura knocked on the door, frowning. What the devil is taking her so long? He opened the door and his jaw dropped. "ANZU!" He bellowed, causing her to jump out of her pleasant slumber.
"Huh...?" She groggily blinked, looking at him tiredly. "What time is it?"
"6:24!" He was on the verge of strangling her if she didn't realize what that meant.
"6...Oh no!" She jumped up, her hair ruffled and her dress creased. Bakura scowled at her appearance, but decided not to speak his thoughts.
She looks like shit...Well, for a ball.
"Get ready. Do you think you can make it in twenty minutes?"
"I can manage." She shoved him out boorishly, slamming the door behind him. He glared at the door, grumbling under his breath.
"Damn woman. She's getting a mite too discourteous..." He paused in thought. "I'll have to have a talk with her about that."
"You're late, you know." Isis informed Bakura matter-of-factly. The roguish male rolled his eyes at her.
"So sue me. Besides, it was her fault." He nodded towards Anzu, who flushed in embarrassment. Isis blinked, then smiled.
"Oh, well if that's the case you're fashionably late." Bakura narrowed his eyes. If it had been his fault that they were late, Isis would claim it unfashionably late. Figures. "Come on, Anzu, let's lure men together. I might be married, but playing with them is my specialty! Seducing them is, too." The two ladies giggled and whispered with each other, leaving the men gapping after them.
"Humph." Bakura crossed his arms over his chest, glowering. "Women."
"Amen!" The other three said.
"Then again," Seto said, casting a sly look at Bakura, "your woman is obviously a bigger handful than mine."
"What?"
"Everybody's talking about it!" Yami exclaimed, coming up to them. No longer in a pissy mood, he was beaming.
"About what?" Malik asked curiously.
"The fight that Bakura and Anzu had." Yami grinned broader. Bakura groaned in degradation.
"Damned woman." Bakura muttered under his breath crossly. Yami chuckled, fixing his veneer.
"So," Malik smirked over at Bakura's humiliated expression, "what are they saying?"
"Not anything wrong, I'll give you that much." Yami's eyes twinkled. "They're saying that they were acting like an old married couple. Some of the women are appalled, but no one really cares what they think. The majority of the ton are beginning to think that you two are courting."
"Which is just what the objective is." Bakura reminded them. Yami nodded, along with the two brothers.
"What." Seto's tone was deadly aloof. The four flinched, forgetting that the Prime Minister's husband was right here.
"Well..." Malik knew how his sister would feel about this and realized their mistake. "As you know, this marriage is a set up." Seto nodded once to indicate his acknowledgement. "So we devised a plan for the ton to think otherwise, that Bakura and Anzu are..." Malik gestured. "...in love."
"Is that why you've unexpectedly decided to come to enter society, Bakura?" Seto inquired.
"Yes." Bakura answered, acting as calm as he didn't feel. Bakura explained everything to him, deciding that they could use another alley.
"Hm." Seto lowered his eyes, pursing his lips together. "I doubt that you'll be able to pull this plan of yours off with Hathaway and Julian after you."
"I disagree." Yami spoke up. "The ton already believe them to be courting."
"The ton know Bakura's reputation better than anyone. They won't believe it for long. In fact, they're probably putting on bets how long it will be until Bakura fucks her and drops her." Seto normally didn't swear. Especially in front of Isis, but on this sort of topic, he couldn't help it.
Yami stared at him in horror, his smile no longer on his face. His mouth was open in surprise. He cleared his throat, his smile mild. "We shall see, won't we?"
"So we shall."
When the two women returned, the men were glowering at each other. Or more specifically, Bakura and his three men were glaring at Seto.
"What in the devil's name are you five doing? You look ready to kill." Isis stared at them with her round eyes.
"Nothing." Seto assured her, the ice that was around him, melting. "Come, let us dance." Isis blinked, then smiled and took his arm.
"Bakura..." Anzu took his arm. "I...I saw my mother with a man, when Isis and I were on the dance floor."
"You what?" He turned his gaze from Seto. She turned from him and he followed her acuity.
"That's Cornwell." Malik told them lowly.
"Are you sure?" Bakura asked, ambiguously noticing that Anzu's hand had slid into his.
"Positively. He looks too much like Julian."
"That's Julian's brother!" Anzu gasped in surprise.
"No surprise there." Bakura grunted, his fingers tightening around Anzu's. "They look nearly alike." He glanced over at the Ishtar brothers. "Almost like you two, eh?"
"Almost." Marik agreed.
"But what would Lady Sofia be doing with him?" Yami asked, his smiling dropping in puzzlement.
"I think she saw me earlier." Anzu admitted to them.
"That could be a bad sign." Malik sighed, stating the obvious. "What if Hathaway or Julian are here?"
"Let's hope they're not." Marik alleged, his eyes scanning the aristocratic crowds.
"You look worried, what's the matter?" They turned to see Isis and Seto.
"Oh, nothing!" Anzu chirped, giving a bright smile. "Has the dance ended already?" Isis' gaze slid to Bakura and Anzu's clasped hands. A corner of her mouth lifted into a sly smirk.
"Yes, it has. Anzu, can I have a word with you in private?"
"Of course, you can!" Anzu followed Isis. Seto's brows snapped down the minute Isis' back was turned.
"What happened?"
"Lady Sofia and Cornwell are here." Bakura hissed between tightly clenched teeth.
"You see?" Seto raised his eyebrows at him. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to pull it off."
"We will. Nobody knows of our plan outside our small...group, except you." Bakura's eyes met Seto's. "I plan on keeping it that way." Seto sighed.
"I'll keep it a secret." He asserted.
"You'd better."
"Anzu, I knew the rumors were true!" Isis squealed in a whisper. Anzu blinked in confusion.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You and Bakura are courting, aren't you? You two are in love, am I right?" Anzu wanted to deny it, but remember the strategy. Anzu blushed demurely to bring further convincing.
"Yes," Anzu put her palm to her cheek, turning away. "It is. Bakura doesn't show it, but..." Anzu sighed. Isis took her hands and jumped up and down in glee.
"Oh, that's fabulous, Anzu! I knew someone could soften his black heart!" Isis' eyes twinkled in eagerness. Anzu blushed for real this time, feeling ashamed for lying.
"Um, well...Thank you...I guess." Isis let out a laugh.
"Don't worry. Soon, you'll be like me. Happily married and perhaps you'll have children!" Isis' eyes glimmered with hope for not only herself, but also Anzu. Anzu, flushing a darker crimson, couldn't think of her in Bakura's bed – ever.
Anzu walked back to the males, her face flushed.
"What's wrong with you?" Bakura asked immediately when she approached them.
"Nothing." She shook her head. Isis grinned.
"Come on, Seto, we have some duties to attend. Goodbye, Anzu! Have fun!" She winked at Anzu, nudging her a bit. The heat that had left Anzu's skin came back. Bakura arched an eyebrow in question, but said nothing.
"Hathaway isn't here." Malik informed her.
"Nor is Julian." Yami added, sighing.
"I wonder why my mother and Cornwell are here then."
"Hm." Yami glanced around again.
"I wonder if Duke and Ryou were supposed to meet him." Malik deliberated aloud.
"Perhaps, but that wouldn't explain Sofia's appearance here." Bakura pointed out. The other three sighed.
"Bakura, I can't see them anymore." Anzu told him, grabbing his wrist.
"Probably because they're dan – "
"Malik!" They all turned to see the topics of their conversation standing beside them. "I didn't believe you to be a man to come to balls." Cornwell grinned handsomely at the blonde.
"I didn't expect the same out of you, either, Cornwell." Malik replied with as much good nature that he could congregate.
"You must be Anzu." Cornwell took Anzu's hand and brushed his lips over her fingers. "My brother has told me much about you."
"Has he told you how much he wants me to be six feet under, as well?" Anzu asked coolly. Cornwell laughed at her question.
"You certainly are a pistol, Lady Anzu!" He winked at Bakura. "Lucky my brother doesn't have to put up with you." Malik realized, at that moment, that Julian hadn't said anything about the conflict between him and Anzu. He glanced at Sofia's sour face and affirmed that theory.
"Well, Sofia and I must be going. I promised Hathaway I wouldn't keep her for long." Cornwell grinned. "Though I certainly wish I could keep the lass to myself, she's pleasant company. Goodbye, Malik." He nodded to him. "And Lady Anzu," he took her hands in his. "I do hope to meet with you again." A low growl from Bakura's throat warned Cornwell away. Clearing his throat, Cornwell departed with Lady Sofia, chatting with her all the while.
"Cornwell's a charmer." Yami noted, his smile returning.
"Humph," Bakura glared after him, "I could do better."
"Somehow I doubt that." Anzu muttered to Marik, who was standing close behind her. Marik snickered, along with Malik, who had overheard.
"I heard that!" Bakura proclaimed.
"Oh, Bakura, don't take it as an insult," Anzu told him. "Take it as the honest truth." She left to the refreshment table, Bakura glaring after her.
"She's getting way too discourteous..." Bakura grumbled, glowering.
