"You can't do that." Howled Mokuba.

"I can and I am. Now go to bed, we're flying out in the morning."

Mokuba's body heaved with pent up emotion.

"I'm not going." His voice pitched slightly.

Seto's fists clenched and his face set hard.

"Understand this," his voice came out in a low menacing growl"You will have no further contact with Mazaki or her loser friends. You will go to bed now, and you will be coming tomorrow. Do not even think about trying to manipulate me to change my mind or you'll end up as sorry as Mazaki is going to be."

Regret filled him, as the subconscious thought of Mokuba running away, beckoned to be heard, but he could not. Would not. Back down now. The decision was made, Anzu Mazaki was no longer welcome or to be mentioned in their house. He knew Mokuba would fight him, yet his brother remained unusually subdued. His subconscious knocked on the door of his present mind again. Why wasn't Mokuba trying? He always tried to win. First he would yell. Then plead. If pleading didn't work he opted for blackmail, some more yelling and then ultimately crying. Seto's whole being screamed within for help!

"Fight damn you."

Mokuba was looking right through him.

"Why won't you fight?"

Panic was threatening to spill over and consume him. His brother no longer recognised him. He was nothing to Mokuba now. His heart and mind cried out to the boy, but he received no response.

Seto grabbed Mokuba's arms trying to shake him from this catatonic state. The body tensed under his hold. Releasing his arms, Seto cradled his face, forcing him to look his way, but the eyes never wavered from their trance.

"Say something, say anything." Seto was terrified and his voice betrayed him.

"I hate her."

"What?"

"I hate her."

"No Mokuba you don't, you hate me."

Mokuba now struggled trying to free himself from Seto's hold, but the grip was vice-like.

"I do, and I hate you too."

The child's arms flailed about seeking to damage, wanting to hurt that which hurt him. His fists pummelled at his brother.

Seto was awash with emotion. This boy in his arms was no longer his brother he was a stranger. A person that Seto had never met, and it frightened him.

Sinking to the floor he hugged the stranger tight wanting the boy he knew to come back. As quickly as it started so to it ended. Mokuba was drained, his face pale and little energy left in him.

Carrying the exhausted child upstairs he lay beside him not daring to move lest he never see him again.

Seto woke tired and sore. Swinging his long legs over the side he gingerly pushed himself from the bed. It was still early, but a shower offered the best relief to his aching body. Bruises covered his chest and arms, a strong reminder of last nights showdown.

"I'm sorry."

The mirror reflected a tormented child hiding by the bathroom door.

"It's okay Mokuba."

Within seconds a black haired mop was burrowing into his side. He winced each time his brother squeezed the worst affected regions. Mokuba lay his head over Seto's heart, listening to the soothing beat. Seto's skin burned with the touch.

Frowning he raised the boys face to examine him.

"You've got a fever!" Not a question, but a statement. He couldn't take him on the plane like this.

"Then I can't go, can I?" Hope creeping its way back into Mokuba.

"Mokuba I can't leave you on your own, and it's critical that I go. I, no we, stand to lose too many things if I don't."

A very real fear settled within Seto's heart. What if that stranger returned?

A knock on his bedroom door created the distraction he needed.

"What is it?" He called.

"You're required at the door, and the car is ready when you are Sir." Replied the maid.

"Who is it?"

No answer.

"Damn it! How many times do I have to tell them? Don't leave until you're dismissed."

Buttoning the cuffs of the black silk shirt he'd chosen, Seto descended the stairs quickly. His pace slowed nearer the bottom.

"Get out!"

Her face rose to meet him.

"I came…"

"I said, Get out!"

The maid who'd admitted Anzu hid anxiously below the stairs, hoping against hope he wouldn't see her.

"Please, I just wanted to apologise to her."

He blinked.

"Well, you can't."

"She's not here Anzu."

She had to lean slightly forward and to the left, but she could see Mokuba on the landing. A smile pulled at her mouth but soon fell when the boy didn't smile back. A sweeping glance over Seto told her all she needed. He'd tattled on her and Mokuba had chosen his loyalties. Rolling her lips between her teeth she peeked up at Mokuba again, lines of worry now evident on her brow. Without thinking she moved towards the stairs.

"Where are you going?" She'd forgotten Seto was there in that brief second, but the very warm and solid barrier before her reaffirmed his presence

"He looks unwell, I only wanted to check him."

She could see the muscles in Seto's jaw twitch, but that wouldn't deter her from going up and seeing to Mokuba. Did Seto wince as she placed her hand on his chest? Was his hatred of her that strong?

The stubborn side of Anzu began to take control as she tried passing the barrier again.

"You can't take him on a journey like this if he's unwell."

"It's none of your business."

"But look at him!" She raised her hand palm up towards the boy "The fever's evident from here."

Seto was running out of patience and out of time, he had to meet Rose and of course, Oswald too. And soon, or run the risk of losing the precious ground he'd made in the last 48 hours.

His face now hovered close to her own, every minute detail and imperfection visible. Those eyes still the colour of frozen ice no longer flashed like she'd seen last night.

"Since your such an expert Mazaki, you stay here and look after him and I'll go alone."

"But Seto, last night you said…"

Seto didn't move.

"I know what I said last night Mokuba."

"So I'm allowed to see Anzu again?"

The implication behind the question caused Anzu to sway slightly. Seto steadied her. Her hands were pure blocks of ice compared to his own. Her trembling mouth was shaded in a pale blue with the hot tears that now fell colouring those parts they crossed.

"You told him he couldn't see me?" Her voice choked out the words

"I told you last night you'd be sorry."

"But I thought….never did it cross my mind." She searched desperately for something other than Seto to look at. Short sharp breaths marked her loss of composure.

Wrenching free her hands, she grabbed for the rail, preventing a fast descent as she toppled backwards. Seto reached to stop the fall but she'd saved herself and shrunk away from his approaching grasp.

"How was I ever foolish enough to think you were kind?" She sobbed flinging wide the door and tearing down the steps. Her coat flew open with the motion.

Seeing her run it was then the realisation came, Anzu hadn't gone home last night.