Where This May Lead
Chapter 4
Mokuba Kaiba walks out of the hospital on crutches. He is alive, healing, and flanked by his guardians. It is exactly the way he wants to re-enter the world. Seto is wary of the reporters. If one of them is foolish enough to somehow trip his brother, the lawsuit will be the talk of the decade. Anzu simply keeps a bright smile on her lips and her sunshades on her eyes.
The limo drives them to Anzu's dance studio first. Tonight is her final performance of the season. Mokuba has promised that both he and Seto will attend after which they will do dinner. Anzu has also accepted Mokuba's invitation to spend August with them in the Hamptons.
When the brothers are alone, Mokuba says, "I've been reading."
"Really?"
"Yes. I especially found the issue from mid-June captivating." Seto's expression is bland. Mokuba presses forward. "What was the headline, 'Romance in the Moonlight' was it?"
"Your point, Mokuba?" Seto is not one to beat around the bush like this.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Seto looks at him. "That we hugged? Is it that important?"
Mokuba regards him in manner that suggests he has grown a second head, "You don't just hug people, Seto."
Silence. Mokuba realises that if this conversation is going anywhere, he will be the one to take it there.
"So how do you feel about her?"
This time, Mokuba understands why Seto does not look at him. It makes Mokuba angry, mostly with himself. He has no right to deprive Seto of his life like this. There is a part of Mokuba that regrets ever leaving the apartment that night yet there is also a part of him that knows that if he had not been in that accident, Anzu would never have come back into their lives. Whether or not the timing is opportune the fact remains: Seto has every right to fall in love.
"Seto, there's no need to deny yourself. She's a beautiful woman."
"I know."
Anzu stands in the wings, in full costume, and stretches. She is nervous tonight and she attributes it to two factors: One; this is her final performance of the season therefore it must be her best. Two; he is in the audience.
She had not expected to wind up in this position when she walked into the hospital so long ago. Love had been the furthest thing from her mind and, even more so, feelings for Seto Kaiba. Yet, as she stands in wait, she does not lie to herself. She feels something for him and it very closely resembles love. With this knowledge, she dances.
When the show is over, she finds her dressing room filled with bouquets of every flower imaginable. Cards overflowing with admiration adorn each. Anzu has come to anticipate these. She is not, however, prepared for his presence.
He brings her chocolates instead of flowers. Expensive, sinful, European chocolate that will do nothing for her figure, she tells him. He tells her that it needs no help. She calls him a flatterer. He tells her it is only the truth. That this is their conversation – something between friendly and flirting – only serves to confuse her. Knowing how she feels and discerning how he feels are two very different tasks. The latter has been getting the better of her for weeks.
Soon, he leaves. She needs to hurry if they are to make their reservation. As she exits the room, she takes only his chocolates. It is the first material gift he has ever given her and though it is nothing compared to the less tangible gifts he has bestowed upon her; it is something she intends to treasure.
Tucking it carefully into her bag, she makes her way past the reporters that have undoubtedly borne witness to both Seto's entry and departure from her notoriously out-of-bounds dressing room. Mokuba greets her with a megawatt smile and they leave in the Kaiba limousine. None of them have ever cared what people think of them and this is one thing that has not changed.
Besides, Anzu thinks, they're halfway right.
Mokuba chooses to remain in the car when they arrive at Anzu's building. Claiming that the excitement of the evening has worn out his bruised body, he makes Seto escort Anzu to her door. Seto makes no objection. Not only fairly at ease around the dancer, he is also eager to seize any opportunity to be alone with her.
They stand silently in the elevator and he wonders if what he feels is right. He has never cared much for right and wrong but, for once, he very much wants to be correct in his actions. Was it right to begin to feel this way while his brother lay near death on a hospital bed? Seto has no answers neither has he time to seek them.
She smiles at him as they step into the corridor and she begins to lead him toward her door. He follows, as is his prescribed duty. When they arrive before the polished entrance to number eight, she stops and turns.
She opens her mouth to speak and, very suddenly, he is terrified of rejection. There is the possibility that she knows and she does not feel that same way. He waits and watches as she changes her mind. Instead, she says, "Thank you for the wonderful evening, Kaiba."
He corrects her, "Seto."
She looks up at him and he decides that her eyes are gorgeous in any light. When she smiles, his breath hitches. "Thank you, Seto."
He has never liked his name more.
She unlocks her door and over her shoulder she all but whispers, "Goodnight."
He allows her to take one step away from him before he catches her arm. She turns to face him, eyes wide and – if he is not mistaken – hopeful. His voice is quiet even to his own ears:
"Anzu," he pauses to enjoy the sound of her name, "May I…hug you?"
She blinks once then nods. His hands slip to her waist and, agonizingly slowly, he pulls her closer. She reciprocates; her arms around his shoulders. Their stance is reminiscent of that night in the hospital parking lot. This time, however, Seto knows what he feels and he is also sure of what role he wants her to play in his life.
He buries his face in her neck, savouring her scent. Raising his head only slightly, he presses his mouth to her chocolate-coloured hair and tells her his secret:
"I'm falling in love with you."