A.N.: YES SIR! I have to honestly tell everyone, I'm excited about this chapter. I have a general idea of where it's heading, but other than that, I'm gonna call it as I see it. I really can't wait to see what my subconscious has in store for this one…

Sacred Name

Whenever those dark clouds hide the moon
Whenever this world has gotten so strange
I know that something's gonna change
Something's gonna change

- -

Seto

- -

"Anzu…"

"Seto?" He had to pause for a moment; he hadn't heard her voice for a long time, and she sounded upset. A little startled and worried, his next words came out more rough than he intended. "What's wrong?"

Sniffing, the brunette took her time answering, drawing the C.E.O. even tighter.

"…who said anything was wrong, Seto?"

"You're upset."

Another pause.

"…your gift caught me off guard, Seto."

"And you keep on saying my name."

He heard her take a deep breath, and waited for her reply. She was acting strangely, and he wasn't comfortable with his ignorance in the situation.

"…I miss saying your name…"

"You can call me. You have my personal number, and my secretary knows to put you through."

"That's a lot of money, Seto. I'd really love to call you everyday, but I've just recently gotten my pay raised enough to comfortably support myself. I need to keep my spending down until I have enough money to call halfway across the world…"

"Do you need money, then?"

"No! Seto, I will not take your money! I just told you, I just got a pay raise!"

"But you don't have any right now?"

"Yes! No! Seto, I'm fine!"

Giving a little growl at her stubbornness, Seto switched the phone to his other ear to jot a note down on the pad beside the device.

"I'll have money sent directly to you."

"Seto! No! I won't take it!" He was a little amused to hear a pounding on the other side of the line, and imagined her slamming a fist on a table. She was the type to show such emotion…

"Anzu?"

"What, you arrogant, self-absorbed, pig-headed, chauvinis-"

"You'll take the money."

"AUGH!"

And in that moment, Seto did something he hadn't done in a long time.

He laughed out loud.

- -

Anzu

- -

Anzu couldn't believe it. She'd kissed this man, she'd cried over this man, she'd been obsessed with this man for the entire time she'd been in New York, but she'd never heard him laugh like…that.

She was silent while she listened to him laugh, and decided that he sounded extremely sexy when he faded into a low chuckle.

And then she hung up on him.

- -

Seto

- -

He really couldn't help laughing. Maybe it was the stress, maybe it was the lack of sleep, or maybe he was just relieved to finally talk to Anzu, but she sounded so frustrated, and both of them were aware of how her anger was futile.

He was calming down, and waiting for her to say something when she hung up on him.

- -

Anzu

- -

She had no problem waiting for him to call back. There was no doubt that he was; he always had to have the last word. Drumming her fingernails on the small table that held the phone, she glared at the phone. The familiar ring hadn't sounded half a ring before she'd picked it up and beat him to the first word.

"You laughed at me." She stood with her hand on her hip, waiting for the rebuttal.

"You amused me."

"Seto Kiaba, in the entire time I've known you, you've never laughed like that. I've got the right mind to ask why my independence makes you laugh. Here I am, working my butt off to make rent and food, and you just waltz in and offer me money?"

"You said you needed it." He sounded a little confused…just a little though. Anzu tried not to smile at his well-hidden good intentions, but she simply couldn't stay angry; at least not while that highly intriguing laugh still was echoing I her ears.

"Seto, you of all people should know why I don't want that money. How would you feel if our roles were reversed and I offered you money."

"I hate dancing, and I would never move to New York."

"Wha…..oh, forget it. I'm not taking that money, though."

"It'll be at your apartment by tomorrow evening."

"No, it won't, because I'll send it right back. And for someone who called me, you're awfully quiet. Really, Seto, you're speaking in single sentences."

"I have nothing to say."

"Then why did you call me?"

There was a pause on the other side, and Anzu realized just how weighty her question could be taken.

"…I don't know."

"Oh…"

The silence was now noticeably awkward, and after weighing her options, Anzu decided to take a jump and hope that she landed okay after the proverbial drop. "I've missed you, too."

"…yeah." The response came out as more of a sigh, and Anzu was a little worried at the change of climate from the Kaiba she knew.

"Are you okay, Seto?"

"I need to go."

Anzu was struck dumb by this statement, but recovered quickly, and gave a soft smile.

"Seto, what time is it there?"

"Three."

"Okay, then. I'll let you go."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Seto. Sleep well." There was a pause on the other side, and a breath was taken quietly before the soft click of a phone being disconnected.

Hanging up her phone, Anzu leaned up against the wall and let her heart be warmed by the idea of Seto calling her at three am simply to say he had nothing to say. Giving a giggle, she made her way to try one of the chocolates she was sure he'd put a good deal of thought into.

A.N.: Oh, my. As I get to the end of this, I realize that I've strayed away from the lyrics…this story has taken on a whole new life of its own. I'll probably put the verses for the rest of the story, simply to keep with the format, but I guess my whole 'sticking with the lyrics' didn't work out too well…ah, such is life. The next chapter may take a little longer to get out; All of this so far has been written on a weekend, but my 10 hour workdays start again tomorrow. Yippie.

Maybe I'll use my lunch breaks to write…hmmmm….