DIS: It has been decided by the great will of the readers!

Marik: (-.-) Remind me why I care.

DIS: Ah-ha! There you are wrong. You will care very soon. The winner for the couple for this fic is Marik/Anzu!

Marik: (brightens up) Really, now?

DIS: There will, however, be some minor Bakura/Anzu parts, but, meh, whatever, huh? On to the next chapter, enjoy!

X

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

– Emily Dickinson

Chapter Six, A day done is worth remembering

When Anzu had left into the manor, Marik pulled Bakura back and the Frenchman was eyeing him with the curiosity.

"Just what are you up to now, Bakura?"

"Qu'est-ce que?" Bakura asked, blinking innocently.

"Don't give me that stupid look, you know what I mean!"

"Ah, non, I don't."

"With the whole romantic act and the damned threatening to Lucifer. What the hell did you say to him, anyway?"

"Simply that Anzu was mine," Bakura told him honestly, shrugging.

"What!" Marik glared at him. "Are you completely stupid? You're going to try and get Anzu in your bed? Even after everything she's been through!" Bakura raised an eyebrow, a sly grin crossing his lips.

"C'est tres aimable a vous," Bakura remarked. Marik snorted. "Why do vous care, though, Marik?"

"Because Anzu deserves better than a sleazy bastard like you," Marik snapped moodily. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things I must take care of."

"Hum, hum, adieu." Marik just shot him a dirty look, before storming down the street of London. Bakura smiled to himself, before entering the manor of Isis'. He heard soft music playing and wondered what the devil was going on.

Isis, Anzu, and Seto were in the drawing room. Anzu was watching with glee as Seto and Isis danced.

Zut alours, Bakura thought watching the two spin around the room.

"Oh, Bakura," Anzu turned, smiling. "Where did Marik go?"

"Ah, he said he had some business to give his attention to. What is this about?" He nodded to the two.

"Isis wanted me to dance with her, then Seto took her." She beamed.

"Do vous like dancing?"

"Oh...Um, yes."

"I'm not so good at it, but...on ne connait jamais son bonheur, hmm?" She just blinked at him.

I had better start learning French if I mean to understand him... Anzu thought to herself.

"Speaking of which," Isis slid out of her lovers' arms. "There's a ball tonight, Anzu, would you like to come?"

"Oh, that would be delightful! The last I went to a ball was with my mother – " She became silent, her eyes wide. "Um...Yes, I would."

"Excellent!" Isis' face came alight. "Then we'll get you something less doleful on your wonderful figure, yes?" The elderly lady looped her arm around Anzu's and hurried her up the stairs. "We'll make you look beautiful for my brothers – I-I mean...For the men."

Bakura scowled at Isis' slipup. Anzu won't be in the bed of those idiots, I'll make sure of it. He nodded to himself and turned around only to be stared at by Seto.

"Oui?"

"What the hell is it with you and women, Bakura?" Seto asked at last, his eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"Anzu."

"She is a very attractive woman," Bakura told him simply.

"Yeah? But why are you so intent on bedding her?"

"As moi has said, she is a very attractive woman."

"Dammit, Bakura, you're not completely answering my question! No one goes after a woman consistently like that." He eyed the other male. "Unless there's something more."

"Something more?"

"Are you trying to get back at someone? Maybe make someone jealous?"

"Non, though Marik does act rather jealous when moi think of it." Seto frowned at him. "Moi am being completely honest, Seto, truly."

"You had better be. If you hurt Anzu, that would make Isis cry and therefore, I'd have to hurt you."

"Ah, how the mighty have fallen."

X

"Ball?" Malik grinned. "You're seriously going to a ball?"

"I'm chaperoning."

"Chaperoning? What in the seven hells has gotten into you?" (A/N: Or was it nine hells?)

"I'm making sure that Bakura doesn't seduce Anzu."

"What does it matter to you?"

"Do you really want to see Anzu crying day after night over not only her deceased family, but the fact that she's pregnant and Bakura's abandoned her?"

"Why should you care?" Malik demanded, raising his eyebrows. "I mean, sure, I wouldn't want that to happy, but really Marik..." He grinned. "You're almost acting like you...like her."

"And you're acting like an insufferable ass," Marik snapped angrily. Malik sighed.

"Ah, amour."

"Don't you start speaking French, too," Marik growled warningly. Malik merely smirked at him.

"It is such a romantic language, though." Marik glared at him menacingly. "I'll go to the ball with you, though."

"Oh, and there is the matter that I haven't had a woman in my bed lately," Marik added thoughtfully.

"I agree with you on that, at least. But you know that Bakura isn't going to give up on Anzu."

"True," Marik stretched, "but I have my own persuasive ways to get Anzu away from Bakura."

"You're going to try seducing her?"

"No," he grinned, "I'm going to charm her."

"Charm her. That's a load of bullshit and we both know so. Bakura would be you at that in no time." Marik gave him a sinister look, appearing rather malevolent.

"Listen, Mr. Pessimist, I don't give a damn if Bakura's better at charming her. Who wouldn't want someone like me?"

"Marik, you have a huge, conceited ego. Don't be self-centered for God sakes. Bakura's been able to charm women out of their clothes."

"And were any of them as naïve as Anzu?" Marik inquired pointedly.

"Well...No, but – "

"My point exactly. Besides, eventually Bakura will give up and sleep with a different woman. Anzu won't know the signs of Bakura's interest if they were written in huge, black letters."

"Well, then you won't get her either."

"I don't want her," Marik snarled viciously. "I just don't want to see another virgin go and screw up her life like that one girl did. Who was she again? Oh, yes, Patience, that was her name."

"Bakura was the one that made her like that?" Malik asked in wonder.

"Yes. One day she was rich, then another she was begging at the gates of his manor. Eventually, her parents were so embarrassed they disowned her so – bam! – there she was, poor and crestfallen by Bakura's rejection."

"...I guess that makes sense. That girl scared me, always crying and blubbering. She smelled weird too. She died sometime later, didn't she?"

"Mm hmm. And as for Anzu, she's much too good for that – and Bakura as well."

"Then who do you suggest she marry? You?"

"I was going to say you, since the two of you are getting along so well." Malik glared at him, his face burning red.

"I'm going to get ready," Malik grumbled, storming upstairs.

"Obviously the moron doesn't know a compliment when he hears one," the elder male muttered to himself.

X

"Malik, Marik, you came!" Isis hugged her brothers, kissing the air on both of their cheeks. "Tell me, doesn't Anzu look gorgeous? Seto's refused to answer." The two brothers peered over their sister's shoulder to gaze at Anzu. Both males' eyes went round and they quickly looked away. "Doesn't she?"

"Um...Where did you, uh, get that dress?" Malik asked at last, making certain not to look at Anzu.

"France, why? It's very stylish. It's like mine." She spun around, modeling for her brothers.

What-EVER! Both brothers though, comparing the two gowns.

"Anzu, bonjour, ma – " Bakura clamped his mouth shut, staring at her. He looked to Marik, dumfounded, then looked back at Anzu, as though in astonishment. Then – "Merdeimbecilequevousetesmacherie!" They stared at the French that spurted from his lips in a huge rush. Not even Isis, who was exceedingly clever, understood what Bakura had sputtered.

"Um...Hello Bakura?" Anzu said a bit uncertainly. After catching his breath and wits, Bakura hastily put on an engaging smile.

"Ah, pardon me, Anzu, I did not mean to be so...rude." He ended lamely, still staring at her. "You look beautiful tonight!"

Beautiful? More like a gown that shouts out, "Eat me!" Marik thought to himself, still a bit shocked.

"Thank you," Anzu beamed, a blush seeping onto her cheeks. "It's not too bold?" Bakura looked about to faint with happiness as she shifted to the side.

"Non, non! It looks absolutely divine on you, ma cherie!"

"Really?"

"Oui. Shall we dance?"

"Yes, please!"

When the two were gone on the dance floor, Marik spun to glare at Isis.

"What the hell was that?" Marik demanded, sputtering with anger.

"Bakura?" Isis questioned, blinking.

"No, that-that-that thing you put on Anzu!"

"It's a gown, Marik. And I thought it looked sexy on her."

"Sexy? SEXY? It practically shouts, "Take me to bed, I'm a virginal spinster!" on it."

"He is right," Seto and Malik agreed.

"You three are barbaric. At least Bakura understood that she looked pretty in it."

"Bakura exploded something in French that not even you understood," Marik pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest. "And what's more, he was staring at Anzu as though she put that dress on just for him."

"Twaddle," Isis dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. "Balderdash!"

"Isis, you're going to make Anzu loose her virginity in a millisecond if you keep dressing her like that!"

"Oh, you're so fickle about things, Marik. First you want her to be happy, then you don't want her to be happy. What's next?"

"What in God's name are you ranting about, woman!"

"She's happy with the dress and Bakura. Now you don't want her to have the dress or Bakura! Well, make up your mind, Marik, I can't make all the decisions myself!"

"How about," Seto intercepted, "we let Anzu choose what she wants, hmm?"

"Then I'll tell her straight out the gown makes her look like a whore," Marik decided.

"No!" The other three snapped at him.

"Fine," Marik grunted, sulking.

X

It was the dance before the last that Anzu slid her shawl on her shoulders and nervously stepped up to Marik.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat femininely and he turned to her, scowling slightly.

"Yes?"

"Um...Will you dance with me?"

"Dance with you?" He repeated, looking dumbfounded, as though he hadn't heard of such a notion. "I...Sure, why not?" She beamed at him and placed her hand in his.

"Ahh," Isis sighed, putting her gloved hands to her bosom. "Amour. I do so hope Marik and Anzu marry. They make such a perfect couple."

"Except Marik had mood swings..." Malik added.

"And sleeps around," Bakura supplied.

"And doesn't know what love is," Seto offered.

"And is indecisive."

"And hates weddings."

"And doesn't like the innocent type that much."

"And – "

"Okay, I get it!" Isis snapped. "All I'm saying is that it would be nice if Marik and Anzu were together. After all, Anzu could teach Marik how to behave and become a proper gentleman."

"Isis, that's really hopeful thinking," Malik remarked.

Especially since Anzu will be my wife, Bakura thought, his eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth, but Seto shot him a warning look. The latter glowered, grumbling, before shutting up and sulking, watching the dancers spin around on the dance floor. Faux.

X

DIS: Hmm, not that good really. I think I'm rushing Marik and Anzu's romance, don't you? Please review and please give me some constructive criticism! As the French would say, Adieu!