Andi: (OO) (blinks) Someone is overcome with suspense. Eh heh heh heh...
Angel2003320: Cliffhangers are just so evil, aren't they?
MagicmanSmokegirl: Julian is a dead man, yes. Hathaway is most likely not. Cornwell will probably commit suicide? (oO) That's an intriguing thought as well. And no, Yami, Marik or Malik will not commit suicide. (X.X) I hope.
Pretty Stupid Girl: Yes'm!
Princess of the Knight: Thanks for it being only about two weeks left of school, updates will be even more frequent!
Mariks1andonly: (grins like a fool) Thanks! No one's told me I'm a good writer before. (oO) Scratch that – I remember someone saying so...(o.o) Was it my mom? (shrug) Thanks much for reviewing and the compliments!
Chapter Twenty-Four, Je t'aimeBakura was silent and Anzu feared that he didn't feel the same. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears and she was about to take back her words, when he chuckled.
"Anzu," he squeezed her, hugging her to him. "I love you as well." He glanced down at her. "But I refuse to admit that to anyone outside this bedroom." Anzu let out a small giggle, snuggling close to him.
"I promise not to." Anzu stiffened and jumped out of bed, throwing herself onto the floor, hurrying towards the bathroom. Bakura blinked, and then remembered that she was pregnant.
Good way to ruin a rare romantic moment... Bakura thought bitterly towards his unborn child.
X
Yami's eyes lingered on the messenger, staring at the letter.
"Am I to believe that Julian has changed locations for the meetings?" Yami inquired, feeling his anxiety beginning to build.
"Yes," the messenger replied in a dull voice. The short lord sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Very well then. Tell him I'll be there tonight."
"Yes, milord." The messenger bowed and bounced down the steps towards his horse that was held by one of Yami's servants.
"Anything amiss?" His servant asked in concern, his brows arched downward. Yami turned to him, smiling grimly.
"No, of course not, Jacobs." Yami frowned then. "I'll need to send a letter to Bakura." Jacobs' eyes widened in shock.
"Bakura, sir?"
"Don't question it, Jacobs, you really do not wish to know." Yami hurried inside the house, Jacobs following behind hurriedly. A maid closed the thick doors behind them as the two males entered the drawing room. Jacobs waited patiently as Yami wrote a letter, his quill scratching in the silent room.
"Sir?" Jacobs questioned in puzzlement, reading over his master's shoulder.
"Here," Yami held the parcel out to Jacobs. "Go deliver this to Bakura and inform him that I'll be gone tonight."
"Yes, sir," Jacobs murmured, bowing.
X
Bakura fingered his quill, staring hard at the doors. For the last week and perhaps longer, there hadn't been many frauds. He knew it was ridiculous to ask for someone to cheat in his casino, but he needed something to occupy him. Something that would help him forget about Anzu, forget about their current position and Hathaway. Narrowing his eyes, Bakura glanced over at the elder male, who was lounging on the couch, reading one of Shakespeare's pieces.
"Hm?" Hathaway looked up, hearing tapping noises from the door. "Shall I?"
"Meh," Bakura waved his hand carelessly. Hathaway stood up, his old bones cricking loudly. Bakura winced slightly at the sound. He thought the old man (he's not really that old) was going to break in pieces. The doorknob turned with Hathaway's help and a small click sounded as he drew the door opened. Jacobs nodded to Hathaway in thanks and he sauntered in the room, the parcel hanging limply in his hands. Hathaway shut the door, sitting back down, picking the book back up.
"Yes?" Bakura asked, raising an arrogant brow.
"I have here a letter from Lord Yami," Jacobs announced proudly.
"Do you now? Why didn't he simply come himself, pray tell?"
"He left when I did. Said he had a journey ahead of him." Jacobs shrugged. "Milord doesn't tell me everything. Oh! He also informed me to tell you that..." He blinked. "That he would be gone tonight and tomorrow morning." Bakura's eyes narrowed as he took the parcel and tore it open.
"Ah," Bakura smirked broadly. "Seems are friend went to a meeting today." Hathaway looked up, curious. "To one of Julian's."
"Did he...?"
"He did. The location is here. But he has asked for us to keep Anzu here with Marik."
"So we are departing today?"
"Right now." Bakura stood up, tucking the letter in his pocket. "You're doing a good deed, Jacobs."
"Yes, sir."
"Let's go, Hathaway!" Bakura told him, hastily striding out of his office. Hathaway followed him, flipping a coin at Jacobs.
"What am I? A pauper?" Jacobs hissed to the silence, flinging the coin to the ground. He blinked, looking around, then picked it up and tucked it in his pocket. Whistling innocently, he followed them out of the office.
X
"Leaving?" Anzu breathed to Marik, who shrugged.
"Yami seems to have found the location of Julian and sent a letter to Bakura, giving the locality."
"But...What am I supposed to do?"
"We," Marik crossed his arms, sulking, "are going to stay here."
"Why!"
"Because you're pregnant and Bakura doesn't want you to have a miscarriage."
"But you're stronger! They should have kept Malik here – no offense, of course to him." She paused. "Where is my brother and Ryou?" Marik shrugged noncommittally. "Don't tell me they accompanied them!"
"I don't make the calls, Anzu, Bakura does."
"He knows better! My brother can't fight, let alone defend himself! He and Ryou will be at a disadvantage!"
"I'm sure Bakura's thought of something."
X
"All right, you two irresolute so-called men," he pointed at Ryou and Duke, who flinched, "are going to be our back-up."
"But who will defend us...?" Duke asked, blanching.
"The hell?" Bakura frowned. "Yourselves!" Malik sighed, fingering a lock of his hair. "What are you, women?"
"We're gay!" The two howled in fright.
"And that's supposed to be an excuse?"
"Go easy on them, Bakura," Hathaway told him softly.
"We didn't ask to come!" Ryou pointed out.
"Then how would you avenge Anzu?" Bakura demanded.
"She's not dead!"
"SO?"
Silence.
"That's what I thought, now let's go!"
X
"Anzu, please! You are being ridiculous!" Marik dragged her away from the stables, scowling. "Unless you want to kill your unborn child, I suggest you just stay put."
"I bet Bakura and Malik are torturing my brother!" Anzu wailed tearfully. He scowled.
"Woman, get back in the house!" He shoved her into the house and she let out a yelp.
"Stop man-handling me or I seriously am going to miscarry!" Marik seemed to contemplate about that, before shrugging. "Please, Marik!" Anzu looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. He glared at her.
"Dammit!" She beamed when he ushered her outside. I'm already dead... He thought, swearing under his breath.
X
DIS: Well, we're almost done with the fic. (sighs) And it's been such a long road. (pats fic, sighing) Also, sorry for the short chapter. Anyway, review please! Either the next chapter or the chapter after that will be the last one.
