"Seto?"
"Yes Mokuba."
"Can I ask you a question?"
Seto's face twitched imperceptibly.
"Seto?"
"So long as you keep walking."
"Why …" The boys pace slowed, as he looked down hoping to find the words he wanted.
"If this is about what girls…"
"No, well not exactly." Mokuba was quick to say
"This isn't the time Mokuba, and," Stopping to face the small boy. "If it's about what Anzu wants, this, and I stress this point very clearly, is definitely not the time."
Mokuba hung his head and continued walking. "It's not exactly about what Anzu wants." He said quietly.
"Well then what?"
"Why don't you like Anzu?"
For the first time ever, Seto was speechless.
"Mr Kaiba." Came a soft Texan drawl. "I've been so looking forward to meeting you."
Mokuba scowled and crossed his arms. Seto gave a small look of confusion at his young brother and then faced the owner of the voice. His eyebrows gave a quick rise as he took in the vision before him. Classic figure, hazel eye's, soft red hair and legs that went, well never mind where, just know that they did.
"I, ah, um my brother Mokuba." Seto quickly indicated, pointing at the none too happy boy.
"Charmed, I'm sure."
"If you say so." He replied.
"Mokuba!"
"Soo Mr Kaiba, who's this Anzu? Your brothers girlfriend perhaps!"
Mokuba's eyes grew to slits. "No she's Seto's."
Seto looked at his brother, several heads sprouting before the elder Kaiba's eyes.
Ms Tanaka quickly rose from her seat, smiling wanly at her employer and guest, as she ushered Mokuba away with the promise of a huge coke spider.
"My brother never mentioned that you had a partner, Mr Kaiba."
Seto was still staring at the retreating body of his brother. "That's it. It's official, the kid has finally flipped his lid."
"Sorry, you were saying." Seto said once more taken by the beauty before him.
"Partner, my brother never mentioned one." A dazzling smile followed
"No, I prefer to work alone."
"I don't mean business," a tinkle of laughter punctuated the sentence, "I mean pleasure."
Seto's mouth gaped. "Ohh, no I don't have one of those either."
"But cha brother just said…" Her head turned and dipped slightly to the side with a sultry look, and that smile.
"Let's just say he's on a mission."
"Oh! I see." She answered quietly, "But where are my manners, I'm Rose, my brother Oswald is working with y'ar technicians." She proffered a hand to Seto. Gazing up through his chestnut bangs he placed a kiss on the back.
"And he never mentioned how charming y'were either."
Seto smiled.
"Tanaka!"
The secretary came running from the other end of the hall, she offered an apologetic smile while continuing to clean the ice-cream stain from her blouse.
"Mr Kaiba?"
"Get me reservations at Warren's, I'll be there in 15 minutes." He presented his arm to Rose. "Have the driver waiting out front."
"But your meeting sir."
"Tanaka!"
"In 15, very good Mr Kaiba."
It was well past Mokuba's bed time when Seto arrived home. The younger of the two could have almost passed for his brother had he been taller with shorter hair.
"Why aren't you in bed?"
Mokuba crossed his arms and continued glaring at his brother.
Anzu appeared from the library. Ingesting the heavy atmosphere she began to make her excuses for leaving.
"I better go now Mokuba."
"What is ….
"Why Seto this place is just too …."
The two women took stock of each other.
"I HATE YOU." Yelled Mokuba running up the stairs.
Anzu looked worried, Seto hadn't stopped staring at her since she first emerged from her hiding place. Pointing up the stairs she asked timidly.
"Do you want me to go and check on him?"
"I can do that if ya like." Chimed in Rose.
"No, I'll do it myself." Seto glared at Anzu and then marched up the stairs to Mokuba's room.
Silence rang through the entrance hall.
"You are?" politely enquired Rose
"Anzu," said the girl, still looking up the stairs. "Be gentle Seto."
"Rose this place is just…. Well hello there."
"Oswald, meet Anzu. Anzu my brother Oswald."
Anzu just stared at the two.
"Mokuba, you go downstairs now and apologise."
"No!"
"Do it!"
"No!"
Seto threw his weight down on the bed. "What is it going to take to get through to you, there never was, there never can be, there never will be a place for Mazaki in my life. Get over it."
Mokuba turned away from his brother. "I hate you!" echoed his mind.
Seto came downstairs to find his guests settled with drinks in the library. He watched as Anzu deftly arranged for light food refreshments to be brought to them. He kept to the shadows, so as not to be seen.
Why was Mokuba so taken with her?
"She's kind and loving." Smirked his mind.
That was one thing, as much as he thought that he wanted to, he could not deny. He observed the friendly conversation she was holding with Rose and Oswald.
"A dancer, ya don't say. Rose here's a dancer to."
Anzu looked from the brother to the sister.
"You are? Are you studying or already performing?" Anzu couldn't hide the note of excitement from her voice.
"I'm with Julliard."
Anzu couldn't believe her ears. "You're with Julliard, o my."
"Best there is." Said Oswald. "None better than our Rose."
Seto watched the dark look of despair cross Anzu's face. "That's a look that should never be there."
"What do you care?" retorted his brain.
"I care, alright?"
Three heads turned to the door. Seeing his cover was blown, Seto walked into the room.
Anzu smiled, but it faded as quickly as it came. Rose had risen to greet Seto at the door.
"I thought you'd forgotten us, but of course a gentleman such as yourself would never do that." She kissed his cheek and handed him the drink she'd made it her point to prepare earlier.
"Is Mokuba okay?" Anzu asked quietly.
"Angry, but he'll get over it."
Anzu chewed her lip. "I better go, the recitals in the morning." Turning to Oswald and Rose she added. "It was very nice to meet you."
Rose broke out all the charm. "Did you say you had a recital tomorrow." Anzu nodded. "Not at Ms Timu's school of Dance is it?" Anzu nodded again. "Why this is just too much, I'll be there too. Seto you simply must come, I'm sure Anzu will appreciate all the support she can get."
Anzu's face showed uncertainty at this announcement, but the smile, that never quite reached her eye's, returned.
"I'm sure Seto is much to busy for that." She said quietly
"Oh you must," beseeched Rose grabbing Seto by the hand. "If for no other reason than this mere mortal has asked you."
Seto carefully schooled his face. The thought of being stuck at a recital bored him to tears. The idea that he may have the less is more experience with the devine Rose was certainly appealing. But what about Anzu? If he said yes now it would look as though he only went because Rose asked him to.
"Well aren't you?" sneered his conscience.
Ignoring this interruption to his thoughts he continued to ponder the dilemma he now found himself in.
Mokuba's question nagged at the edge of his thoughts.
"Why don't I like Anzu?"
He frowned. Shifting his eyes to look at her, he was taken aback by the emotion that shone in those bright blue one's that watched him so carefully.
"I can't. There's just too much…"
"Too much what?"
He moved his gaze to Rose and smiled. "Of course I can."