APRICOT SUNDAE
The rain pelted him, dousing him and soaking his uniform to his lanky physique of toned excellence and fair skin. His hair, now matted to his damp face and forehead, clung to his flustered face, set in an agitated expression.
His long legs quickened in pace, his impatience draining any dignity he had left as he resumed a fast walk toward her house.
"When I get my hands on her...." He couldn't wait to strangle her! He could almost picture it....
"You're choking me!" Anzu cried.
Mokuba released Anzu from the relentless embrace he'd welcomed upon her once again as a show of his appreciation for letting him spend the night.
Anzu rubbed her sore ribs, but reluctantly smiled and ruffled the boy's hair till he complained and moved away from her hand, stating he was 'too old' for that kind of childish stuff.
Ryou smiled warmly, admiring her and Mokuba's relationship. The rumors had been right; Mokuba was nothing like his older brother Kaiba.
Ryou's thoughts were broken by the joyous laughter, bubbling from Mokuba's throat as Anzu proceeded to tackle him to the sofa and tickle him into submission.
"Uncle!"
Anzu's torture ventured on as her fingers wiggled playfully against the boy's ribcage, thumping wildly beneath her drumming fingers as he roared with giggles.
"UNCLE!!" Mokuba cried louder. Reluctantly she tore her hands away, releasing Mokuba, who's exuberant laughter ebbed away to light hiccups of remaining mirf.
She acknowledged Ryou with a shift of her eyes, before standing after confirming his presence. "Ryou? Is everything alright?"
Her eyes roamed up to rest on his flustered face, as he clutched the handle to assist himself down the stairs.
"Just a bit tired," He murmured, successfully planting his feet on the bottom step with a sucked in breath of relief. Anzu hurriedly rushed to his side when his legs buckled outward, slackening forward as he began to recede to the carpeted floor.
"Ryou!" She barely whisked her arms around him, steadying his body stiffly leaning against her own as he wobbled and riveted back.
"Ryou, what's wrong?" Her voice hitched higher in desperation to find out her friends welfare, but he merely shook his head and announced he was fine.
"You don't look fine," She reprimanded, moving her hand over his forehead, coated in a thin layer of perspiration.
"I'm fine!" He shouted, shoving her off.
He brought a hand up to clench the millennium necklace tucked firmly beneath his shirt, curling his fingers around the gold object shaking violently against his fingers
"Damn it," He swore under his breath, yanking at the necklace to loosen its placement around his neck as he began to breathe rashly and become annoyed by the odd confined feeling the necklace provided.
Anzu's brows shot up. Ryou never talks like that! What's wrong with him?
She took a step forward. "Ryou? What's wrong?" She repeated, extending her arm out to rest it on his shoulder.
He moved rapidly, slapping her hand away from him with a menacing growl as his head shot up to regard her with a blazing red eye, his other concealed beneath thick shards of white-hair, whisked over the right side of his face.
"Don't touch me!" He spat. His hand retreated from his necklace, quickly coming up to overlap his right cheek.
She eyed him momentarily, before looking back to Mokuba, cowered behind the sofa.
"Anzu?" He called meekly. "W-what's wrong with Ryou?"
Anzu looked back to Ryou. "I don't know myself," She whispered watching the boy clench his cheek with a painful grit of his teeth.
"Damn scar," he cursed.
"Scar?" Anzu breathed aloud. Her eyes shot open in horror-stricken fear. Wait! Scar?
The white tint to Ryou's hair began to deteriorate into a profound and fatigued purple, hinted of grayish hues.
What's happening? What's happening to Ryou?
Ryou dug his fingers deeply in the flesh of his upper right cheek, just below his eye. "Please---d-don't. Bakura!"
With a screeching cry, Ryou's head fell down, his arms flapping lifelessly to his sides. His millennium necklace erupted from the opening of his shirt, falling in with a throttled clunk shortly before his hair flared in multiple directions, flexing out in a wild, eerie fashion.
One she recognized almost immediately as the transformation finished with a vibrating glow, dispersing from the Millennium necklace that now lay calmly on his chest, exposed to sight.
Bakura. But--but how?
With a menacing cackle, the spirit, now possessing control of his hikari's body, lifted his head up with a smug grin.
"No welcome back?" The spirit murmured, revealing a flicker of white teeth.
His eyes gradually retreated from her, finding pause on Mokuba. " Well, well, what have we here?"
Anzu slid in front of the entrance leading to the family room where Mokuba was. "You're not laying a finger on him!"
With languid steps, he was towering above her in seconds, staring her down with a pair of vindictive red eyes, eyes that had seen life after death. Eyes that had witnessed the inevitable shadow realm for millenniums.
The former thief pinned her to the wall with his lanky body, slamming both his hands on each side of her head, an obvious implication she was to go nowhere till he dealt with her completely.
"Well, if it isn't the Pharaoh's tramp," He murmured, eyeing her to the best of his ability in their current proximity, allowing an ample few of the girl's satisfyingly pleasing body.
His left brow cocked up. "Still following the Pharaoh like the filthy whore you are?"
Angered by his assumptions and implications, she struggled to push him off. "Get off!"
"Persistent," His eyes flickered wider, before narrowing back down. "Aren't we, little sprite?"
He leaned in closer, their noses whisking together in the faintest brushes of skin as his eyes boldly ventured into her own, seeping pass and into her soul like a virus.
The lack of emotions in his eyes, withered her confidence into fear, the now prominent feeling that coursed her body such as his hands currently did.
"Keep your hands off," She warned, warily watching his right hand venture down to slyly run up and down her arm.
He chuckled lowly in amusement. "I highly doubt you have a say,"
"What do you want?" She asked. "Why are you back? How did you come back?"
He pressed their chests together, permitting himself to angle his head just above her ear. "That," He whispered hoarsely. "Is my secret,"
She swerved her eyes to the side, shuddering when she felt his hand vanish behind her neck, only to push upward and venture into her thick hair, lifting his hand up till a whole chunk of the auburn tresses lay in his hand.
She winced and let out a sharp intake of breath when his fingers curled around the chunk of hair, tugging roughly at it till her head was angled upward, forcing her neck to painfully arch back.
"Where's the Pharaoh?" He demanded, keeping his other arm hoisted up against the wall to steady himself.
"I-I don't know,"
He gave her hair a course jerk. "Where is he?"
She stubbornly avoided eye-contact. "I said I don't know,"
He chuckled. "You find this little game of yours amusing?" His features hardened, and he gave her hair another yank.
"Well I don't! Now tell me where that damn Pharaoh is!"
"I said I do--"
He banged her head against the wall, thankfully not hard. "Your little act won't last long. I can assure you I'll find out with or without your help,"
He released her hair, letting it flop back to her shoulders. She massaged the back of her head irritably, eyeing him accusingly as he moved back.
What am I going to do? I can't just watch and let Bakura hurt Anzu! Mokuba's face faltered. But what can I do?
Mokuba bit his lip. I wish you were here Seto. You'd know how to handle this.
"Big brother always did," He murmured.
Kaiba stared at the door, his eyes slanting in determination just at the thought of Mokuba inside.
"Finally," He muttered, before banging loudly on the door.
"Open the door, Mazaki!" He bellowed, slamming his fist roughly against the doors surface. He didn't have time for doorbells. Mokuba was in there, and he planned on getting him out.
Anzu sucked in a breath when Bakura looked to the door. "Well, well. What have we here?" He turned and looked down at Anzu.
"A visitor? Perhaps the Pharaoh?"
Anzu scoffed. As if. Can't you tell just by his voice that that is not Yuugi!
Bakura grabbed her by the wrist, whirling her and shoving her toward the door. "I suggest you answer that. Wouldn't want the Pharaoh to know I'm here,"
Then added with an impish grin. "Yet,"
She reluctantly walked over and opened it.
"Mazaki!" Kaiba instantly pushed her inside, allowing himself in and leaving a trail of water behind.
Anzu glared. " You're getting the carpet all---"
He ignored her and silenced her by flippantly bypassing her and looking everywhere in the house but at her and Bakura.
"Where's Mokuba!? What have you done with him!?" He demanded, frantically looking about to steal glances of the living and dinning rooms.
"Seto?" A childish voice called hesitantly, before Mokuba popped out from the family room.
"SETO!"
Mokuba raced toward his brother, before crashing into him and crying out joyously. "You came big brother!"
"Of course I did, Mokuba," He murmured, his tone slightly scolding as he cradled the small boy in his arms.
Mokuba stared up at Kaiba. "Seto you have to help Anzu!" He pleaded, tugging at his blue blazer.
"Help her? She was the one who started this if you seem to have forgotten, Mokuba," Kaiba reprimanded, glaring at Anzu slightly.
Mokuba frantically shook his head. "It's not what you think, big brother! Anzu saw me by myself and let me come home with her,"
Kaiba barely acknowledged the brunette. I could care less. She's endangered him far enough!
"Enough, Mokuba," Kaiba scolded when the boy wailed in protest and begged him to not leave Anzu with Bakura.
"Let's go. I don't have time to meddle in Mazaki's life. Especially now," Kaiba confirmed, face stern.
Bakura chuckled to himself. So the famous Game Duelist Seto Kaiba still couldn't detect the difference between himself and his hikari?
Even she was aware of the transformation. His eyes drifted and fell on Anzu.
No matter. Bakura thought. Less pathetic humans to get in the way of my real plans!
"But Seto!" Mokuba wailed. "Bakura is--"
"Enough, Mokuba!" Kaiba shouted, and his younger brother automatically obeyed, dropping his head down in defeat, muttering a "Yes, Seto," shortly after.
Kaiba stared at Anzu. "You have some explaining to do. Fortunately I have no time to hear your excuses."
Anzu gaped. Why that----Ungrateful, egotistical, stubborn PIG!
She opened her mouth, but he was already out the door, pulling Mokuba along. "I'll be back. And you'd better have answers. For your sake,"
With that, the two brothers vanished down the street toward a parked limousine.
Ugh! How could he accuse me of something like that!? Why would I hurt Mokuba!? Or kidnap him for that matter! UGH!
And not only that, the jerk went and ruined the carpet! Her parents' would kill her if they came back home and saw!
"Well, seems your only ticket out just about failed,"
Anzu nervously looked behind her where the spirit lounged against the wall, arms crossed and head slightly tilted down.
Stuff it. She wanted to say, but this was Bakura we were talking about, and she'd be sent to the Shadow Realm for sure. Even for something as small as that.
"I didn't plan on running,"
"That so? You seem to do so well at it though," He accused, eyes slanting in distaste.
Why I never--!
"That isn't true! I've always stood by Yuugi's side! All my friends for that matter!"
"Sickening, yes," Bakura confirmed, opening his once closed eyes to stare straight ahead.
"It's friendship. Something you've never experienced,"
His eyes swerved to her, before he was pinning her to the entrance door that slammed shut in the process, releasing a loud slam in its wake.
"You haven't the faintest idea about me! You wouldn't be able to count how many times I was betrayed! So I'd suggest you keep shut unless you know from experience!"
She wasn't able to answer to that. How could she? He was probably right. Everyone knew Bakura had a tough life back in Egypt just trying to survive. That's why he became a Thief; stealing goods and jewels a last resort to surviving and supplying a days worth of food and shelter.
Doesn't mean he had to become a psychotic jerk.
" What.Did.You.Say?" Bakura grounded out, eyeing her viciously.
She sucked in a breath of disbelief. Please don't tell me I said that out loud!
"Listen, and listen good," Bakura grabbed her collar, hurling her up and against his lanky figure. "You will take me to the Pharaoh. But first lets play a little game shall we?" His mouth spread in a wild grin, baring straight white teeth.
Anzu swallowed. I have a bad feeling about this.
"Seto! You have to believe me!"
Halfway to the mansion, Mokuba began to plead Kaiba to turn back, but the CEO ignored the boy's wishes with ease.
"Mazaki isn't my problem," Kaiba announced sternly, seated casually in the leather black seats of the limo with his briefcase laid out in his lap.
"But Set--"
"ENOUGH!" The boy shut his mouth quickly, before he began to tear-up at the harsh tone his brother had rarely used on him.
Kaiba moved his arm over his brother's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "I'm sorry Mokuba,"
Sniffling silently, Mokuba stared up at the CEO with a frantic expression. " Then why won't you help Anzu? What's she done to you?"
Kaiba reverted his gaze back ahead, removing his arm from around his brother's shoulders as the response remained unanswered. At least, outwardly.
Because she's friends with Yuugi. That's why.
"Game? I thought you didn't like games?" Anzu countered, eyeing the spirit warily as he slipped his hands languidly in his pant pockets.
"Oh but my games are quite fun on the contrary, my dear,"
His eyes flickered to her a moment, a smirk smearing on his face as he circled her in a slow manner of casual strides.
Anzu followed his slow movements. What's he doing?
Her eyes unconsciously roamed down to grace the Millennium necklace shackling silently against his bosom, glinting in the light as her predators red-eyes seemed to do in his study of her.
He murmured something, distinctly familiar to the Egyptian language as his eyes moved up to her face, only to repeat the foreign words to her in a husky manner.
What's he saying?
He extended his arm, and she swiftly prepared to defend herself, only to watch him twirl a strand of her hair between his forefingers.
She realized he'd gradually lead her back till she was against the wall, his body grinding into her at the hips as he lifted his arms up and planted them on each side of her head.
"You have no choice. You either take me to the Pharaoh, or risk delving in the Shadow Realm for eternity,"
What kind of choice is that? She bit her lip, and meekly replied " What do I have to do?"
"You know better than to meddle in people's lives, Mokuba," Kaiba lectured, shifting his eyes to the side to glimpse his younger brother, slouched forward in his seat with a depressed expression.
"I know," Mokuba murmured, keeping his head down, absently eyeing his sneakers.
Kaiba resumed his gaze forward. "She can handle herself fine,"
After confirming who she was. Mokuba merely nodded in compliance. I just hope Seto's right
He unconsciously twiddled his thumbs. What if Anzu does get hurt? It'll be all my fault. The twelve year old stared out of the tinted windows, watching the houses pass by like a distant memory.
If Anzu gets hurt, I'll blame myself.
A/N: Dun Dun DUN!! What's going to happen now!? And what's Bakura's little game? Will Anzu do it? Is Kaiba ever going to give in to Mokuba's wishes and turn that car around and help Anzu!? Who knows! Review faster and you'll find out quicker! :D
