DIS: Excellent news from the forefront, my friends! I've another fic coming up that is set in England! Mwahaha! It shall be ingenious! - One full of drama, mystery, romance, passion, and plenty of horror! Well, actually, I haven't gotten that far in my summary. I just know the first four are indefinite. At the end of this chapter there will be a summary and introduction to it. Thanks to Eternal Eyes, Cataracta, louisiana-southern-belle, MeeMee (Hmm, maybe it's Lord North,) Daughter of the Slaughter, Angel2003320 (well, Kaiba can handle those sort of things,) TeaG, and anyone else who has reviewed. I apologize for the late update, but as you know, I have been hooked on Kaiba/Anzu fics and the first time I did this chapter, Kaiba made Anzu pregnant. Yeah...So, anyway, enjoy this chapter!
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Recap: Last chapter, Lord Essex and Lord North persuaded the king that Yami might be the cannibal. And when Seto hears the news, he realizes that there's more responsibility on his shoulders than he supposed. Also, Seto spoke for Yami in his trial and won it, declaring the Earl of Avon innocent.
Chapter Twelve, A New Home
"There's daggers in men's smiles." - ( Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene III)
The rain was falling heavily onto the palace of Norwich, giving the land a gloomy appearance. The clouds that hovered above looked angry as the lightning danced across the sky, lighting it up. Thunder raged and it was only a matter of time until the humans below became as angry and mutinous as the storm was. Smiling, he turned from the window and peered across the chamber, his enemy standing beside him. They had been waiting for the king much too long and what was more, both were getting irate...Well, the latter was at any rate. He, however, was waiting for the announcement. Eager was he for the statement that Yuletide was to be cut short. He chuckled, glancing outside once more. The rain was beating down the snow and he couldn't help but feel envious of the rain. How powerful it was!
"There he is," the other male murmured with a slight tone of contempt in his voice.
It shall be done, I assume...Am I right, King George?
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The king entered the chambers and sighed heavily. The rain had depressed him and when he spotted Lord Essex and Lord North, he felt his heart fall lower. He knew what they both were expecting. His eyes met North's, then Essex's. Both seemed to be staring at him with what he would call...resentment? No, not quite, but it was horribly close. A shiver ran up his spine and he sat on the throne, swallowing the lump in his throat. The two were like his counsel, but sometimes...Sometimes the two seemed like two felons that were sneaking around in Society.
It is now or never, King George decided to himself. "Gentlemen," he spoke up to them both. Lord North, the larger pessimist, inclined his head in curiosity.
"Your Majesty?" Both murmured. They stiffened and shot dirty looks at each other.
"Gentlemen!" The king told them more firmly. "Hell's teeth, we don't have time for arguments over petty things." They nodded in agreement, knowing that if they did not, all was lost, especially to him. "After the unfortunate event with Isis Ishtar, I don't think it's safe for my court to be lingering here. You understand, of course?" The men nodded mutely. "At dinner I shall announce it, but for now..." he sent a dubious look towards the window. "For now we can do nothing, for the weather is holding us down. You both are dismissed."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Bowing, Vincent left the room in deep strides, his brow worried. Lord North's gaze followed him until he turned towards the king, who sighed in weariness. "Are you ill?"
"No, it's just this whole cannibal thing, North."
"Mmm."
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Seto had been contemplating what his actions towards the death of his fiancée should, indefinitely, be and decided that after his roar at Marik yesterday, he would move in for the kill. With the king's assent, he would move Anzu, along with the Frenchman, Panther Piss (Marik), and Genteel Man (Malik) out, back to London. What The Bastard (Yami) did was no concern of his. His first priority was Anzu (as, he realized, it had always been.) He knocked on a door and heard the soft, "Enter" from - was it the maid? He was unsure.
"Seto!" Anzu exclaimed in surprise. "I'm so glad that you came here. I have to discuss something with you..." His steely eyes moved over to her bed and he saw that she was packing her things. Seto, of course, was not planning on scorning her for beginning to. He admired her clever mind for putting things together so quickly. "If the king will allow, I want to hurry and get out of here as soon as possible. It's not safe in the king's court. I, of course, never thought so, but no one listens to the humble and meek girl over here." She glowered as she stuffed one of her gowns into her trunk. A gasp came from her throat and she tugged it out, eyes wide. "Oh, no, poor gown..." she smoothed it out and he realized it was one of the many gowns Isis had given her.
"I was actually thinking of the same. However, since my fiancée is...deceased...You will have to take up residence elsewhere." Seto paused briefly, allowing her to absorb that piece of information. "You know that I would let you stay with me Anzu, however, I am in mourning and it would tarnish your perfectly..." He paused once again, his eyes straying, before continuing, "...smooth reputation. So, I propose that you stay with a close someone." His eyes narrowed. "I'm not very happy to admit that Isis' brothers or Bakura would be good candidates. But by God, I'm not going to trust you in the hands of that womanizer, Yami. So, we'll see what those three have to say and take it from there."
"You have it all figured out, Seto," she exclaimed in surprise, "I'm impressed! Though you always was the business man." His lips twitched at the compliment. "Er, but how is my reputation any better off in Marik, Malik, or Bakura's hands?"
"Mourning," he reminded her.
"So are her brothers."
"I was her fiancée, Anzu, it's much more suspicious. Besides, by the way Bakura acts around you, the ton will probably assume you two are secretly planning a wedding of some kind."
"My lord!" She looked shocked. "How could you say such a thing?"
"Are you deaf and blind?" He demanded, his brows furrowing. "The Frenchman's infatuated with you!"
"Should you really go that far?" She muttered, feeling her cheeks grow warm. "Bakura could find many a better woman than I." Seto shrugged.
"Probably," he admitted with shrewd honesty, making her frown in disapproval. "However, I think he prefers the dull-witted women."
"If you're going to be a jackass, then just leave," she snapped at him, her patience wearing thin. He raised his eyebrows at her small bit of swearing, before tut-tutting as though in displeasure.
"At any rate," he turned to leave, "be ready by tonight. I have no doubt that the king will permit our leave." Even if the weather doesn't agree with us, Seto thought to himself, shutting the door behind him, I'm determined to leave this hell by nightfall.
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"You know," Yami remarked to his companions lightly, "I don't think that you chaps are winning."
"Gee, aren't you a wise man?" The marquis muttered. Yami spotted Seto in the corner of his eye and he ushered to him. Seto frowned, then paused, waiting for the earl to collect his winnings.
"Seto! Looking so glum, are you? What news have you?"
"What the devil do you mean?" Seto eyed him with distaste. Despite the fact that their feelings were mutual, the Earl of Avon acted as though Seto was a dear friend of his. Whether he was acting some part in an unknown play or not, Seto was unsure. All he wanted was to get out of Norwich and away from the man. He reminds me of a German for some odd reason. But then again, that one German I met was just as short as Yami... Seto eyed Yami, who was going through his winnings hastily, before responding.
"Yes, all here...As I was saying! You look as though you are about to report some unholy news to someone. Is it bad, my lord?"
"I'm leaving to ask the king permission leave," Seto growled. The Earl brightened. "No, you cannot come." Yami scowled at him.
"And just why the devil not?" Seto had a million reasons, but could only think of so many when his nerves were being tested. He was still having difficulty accepting that Isis was dead and wasn't going to be tugging around the castle, laughing. What was more, he had lost track of where Bakura was and he didn't entirely trust the Frenchman any more than he did Lord North or Lord Essex. Instead of answering Yami, he hastened his pace and the shorter male couldn't keep up, so he lost Seto, who had gone through many corridors. At last, Seto exited into the billiard room, where he found the Frenchman, his hands cupped over his knee, staring out the window. He heard Seto and he turned his head. Bakura grinned at him - more of a baring of teeth. "Bonjour, monsieur. Qu'avez-vous fait?" Seto frowned at him. "Quel?"
"English, if you will. I'm in no mood to translate your French."
"What did you do?" Bakura asked in English, eyeing Seto with curiosity, a teasing smirk on his lips.
"I didn't do anything," Seto growled. "That damn Earl of Avon was tailing me just a minute ago and now I can't go see the king without running into the annoying nain." (A/N: I'll tell you what nain means - midget) Bakura laughed.
"Oui, oui, je suis absolument d'accord avec vous sur ce point," Bakura said with a grin. Seto gave him a warning look and he cleared his throat, translating, "I can agree with you there." Seto eyed Bakura, almost warily. Bakura merely smiled at him, all innocence. There was something about the Frenchman that Seto had never liked and now even more so. He hoped that if Anzu chose anyone to house with, it would be Marik or Malik. Malik seemed the more respectable one, but Marik was the more straightforward one and would kill anyone that dared to threaten Anzu. Even if he is lewd, leacherous, and a horny bastard, Seto thought to himself, he is at least strong enough to protect Anzu. I couldn't do anything for Isis, so the only thing I can do now is help Anzu - something that Isis would want me to do. "Ah...Hmm...I don't know how to say it in English - "
"Liar," Seto immediately accused. Bakura smirked at him, a devious twinkle in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he returned his eyes to the window once again, somber. He frowned, then turned his head back to Seto.
"When shall you hold the funeral for Isis?" He asked softly. Seto realized that he had wanted to say it in French so it would take him awhile to translate it - or at least not shock him into silence as it very well did. "Because...I would like to help you with it, Seto."
"...Je ne sais pas," Seto shrugged, repeating it in English, "I don't know, Bakura. What good it would do...Her body's been defiled already."
"So?" Bakura's eyes darkened. "Just because of that does not mean there should not be a proper - proper cremation or...quelque chose!" Seto merely stared him with a black face. Bakura was infuriated that he appeared to not even care one bit about his dead fiancee.
"Well, well, what are you two gentleman speaking about so heatedly about?" A voice asked. Both turned as Malik shut the door behind him and his elder brother, who was eyeing the two cynically. "Plotting something, mm?"
"Ah...Prudent, Marik?" Marik snorted.
"Hell yes, I'm wary," he snapped. "And why shouldn't I be? You are a low, conniving man from France!" Bakura almost giggled as Marik steadily got himself more angry.
"Enough, Marik," Malik said wearily. "We didn't come to find them to argue. We came to tell you two that the king is seeing a Latin man. Rumor has it that he has some important news. I only hope..." Whatever his 'hope' was, it didn't seem to matter to Bakura, who started speaking very quickly in French. The only one who was able to keep up with his rapid French was Seto, whose eyes narrowed more and more as he spoke. At the end, the brunette grabbed him and started shaking him, yelling in some other language that sounded like Italian...or maybe it was French. The two brothers weren't certain. All they were aware of was: 1) Seto was letting out his sexual frustration Bakura (or so they thought) and 2) Bakura was losing color in his face. With a seperate, irate, word, Seto flung the Frenchman from him, glaring. Bakura glared back, though not as darkly. Marik and Malik exchanged a glance, before Malik cleared his throat. "So are we going to see what he has to say or not?"
"Nah," Marik smiled slightly. "I don't have time to translate Latin words. I only know the months."
"I bet you do," Malik replied with sarcasm.
"I do! It goes Ianuarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Iulius, Augustus, September, October, November, and December." Marik crossed his arms over his chest, looking proud of himself. Bakura arched his brows at him, rubbed his shoulders where Seto's iron grip had held him. Malik looked mildly impressed, but he seemed more amused by his declaration than anything. Seto, however, looked sour.
"You moron," he grunted. "You used the updated version of it. Iulius is Quinctilis and Augustus is Sextilis." Marik glared daggers at him, growling low in his throat.
"Why you - "
"Enough, you two," Malik said severely. Seto remembered vaguely about wishing to request leave from the king and at remembering that, he also remembered Anzu.
"Well..." He gave a dirty look to each of them. "Since you idiots are all here, I might as well mention that we're leaving back to London soon." The three eyed him, almost as though he were some sort of moron. "Before you start asking me why the hell you care, allow me to explain." A collection of nods was his response. "Now, since Isis is...deceased...Anzu is left with nowhere to go. So, I went to her this morning and informed her that she could choose out of one of you three to live with - until this mess is cleaned up. Marik and Bakura's faces lit up like a candlestick. Maybe I should have just taken her under my care...Seto thought at their expressions.
"Why couldn't you have taken her under your wing?" Malik, the innocent one out of the lot, queried. Seto almost smiled at the murderous glares Malik was receiving from both males. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face and he cleaed his throat, saying, "Well?"
"I'm now a widower," Seto told him simply. "Suspicions would rise if I suddenly brought Anzu into my household."
"But no one would assume that you killed Isis!" Malik exclaimed. "I'm sure of it!" Seto smirked as Marik shoved Malik into a couch, glowering. Bakura joined him in sending him dirty looks.
"So, she has to choose?" Marik asked with an innocent grin.
"Herself?" Bakura added with a similiar smile.
"Yes," Seto responded, amused. "She does."
Excellent! They both thought, anxious for Anzu's decision.
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DIS: (sweat drops) Well, that was rather short, I admit, but I finally am back in a Marik/Anzu/Bakura mood! - Or just one of them...It took a long time, but I am back in action! (pumps fist in the air) And now for the summary and theprologue to my upcoming fic, 'Prolonged Kiss'
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Title: Prolonged Kiss
Rating: T or M, not sure yet
Genre: Romance/Drama/Mystery
Summary: AU; Anzu had once been a rich lady of the ton until her father died, leaving her with his debts. Now, she lives in their run-down manor, struggling to remain strong. Her troubles become even more pressed when the arrogant lord, Seto Kaiba, comes around searching for her father, who he believes is really alive.
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh, but guess what? I do own this storyline, mwahaha!
Notes/Warnings: Seto/Anzu; AU; Set in Medieval England; This is another addition to my saga of Medieval England fics! First it was Bakura/Anzu, then Marik/Anzu, and now - ta da! - Seto/Anzu!
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Prolonged Kiss
Prologue
Hathaway Mazaki raised his cup to his lips, a smile curling the corners of his mouth upward. He watched as his daughter chatted happily with his recent lover, Madeline Hatton. Anzu didn't know that he was courting the young blonde, but it wasn't as though she had to know, Hathaway supposed. After all, he had had plenty of other lovers before Madeline and she didn't know a thing about them. Well...He hoped not at any rate. He gazed around at the ship and smiled. They were almost back in England. Just almost. He couldn't wait to return to London and bury himself in his pile of new books.
An explosion shook the ship and he spun on his heel. Screams and footsteps deafened him and he turned around wildly, searching for his daughter and Madeline. Madeline was lying on the floor, blood curling in a spiral from her mouth. She had been shot. Anzu was nowhere to be seen. This is it, isn't it, mighty Lord? He asked the spirit in the heavens. This is the test of my will - the test of my intelligence, isn't it? He ran towards Madeline, but was grabbed by a rough hand.
"Well, where're ya goin' laddie?" The Irish brute asked Hathaway, who stared up at him with cool eyes.
"Where I wish to," he growled.
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DIS: Yay! Doesn't it sound intriguing? I haven't decided whether I'll be putting any horror in this. There will certainly be no cannibal in this one, I assure you of that. But Prolonged Kiss inspires me! Anyway, please review and I should have the first chapter of this up soon, though I can't say when. Good day to you all! (throws candy to everyone)