After much pleading, on Mokuba's part Anzu agreed to spend one final night at the mansion.

Seeking sanctuary from the exuberant boy, she curled up on the corner chair in the library. Eyeing the room as she picked up her book, she sighed contentedly. It truly was her most favourite place in the whole house. She could come in and lose herself, knowing that no one would disturb her. Mokuba rarely came in, preferring the distractions in the games room. Apart from general housekeeping, the staff had no reason to enter.

She loved the time she spent with Mokuba, her friends and family, but sometimes it was nice just to be alone with her own thoughts. Despite the size of her own home, it was difficult to shut the rest of the world out as noise carried easily through the paper-thin walls.

Flicking through the book she eventually located the small slip of paper marking her spot. Settling further into the chair she regained the thread of her story. So absorbed, she didn't notice her company until a shadow from behind cast across the page she was reading.

"It's okay you can come out of hiding now, he's in bed."

Retaining her seat she replied indignantly. "For your information I wasn't hiding, I came in here for some peace and quiet."

"Really, well I'll save my breath and apologies then."

A wine glass materialised before her face, magnifying the words on the page behind. Taking the glass she looked up, the famous Kaiba smirk shining down on her.

"Apologies for what?" she asked confused

"Yes thank you for the drink Seto, you really shouldn't have bothered." He mimicked Anzu's voice.

Abashed she replied. "Yes thank you Seto, I'm sorry for being so rude. But you still haven't answered me, what do you need to apologise for?"

A frown passed over his features briefly before the smirk returned to its full glory. He had only been jesting about the drink but she'd thought he was belittling her. It bothered him that she was unable or unwilling to see the subtle changes in him.

"For the faces that little toad, I call a brother, was pulling."

She had always suspected but now she sat in awe of the truth. Seto Kaiba truly did have eyes in the back of his head.

"How did you know that he was doing?"

She could see him contemplating whether to toy with her, like a cat with a mouse or end the torment swiftly.

He compromised.

"Have you learnt nothing over the years, I know everything. Ask any teacher we had."

Typical egotistical, self made….

"Besides the twit forgot the mirror."

She began to laugh, eventually lapsing to hiccoughs as she struggled to regain her breath.

"You haven't told him have you?" She took a quick sip of wine.

"What and spoil my omnipotent stature, you really do come out with the stupidest things."

The rebuke came out harsh. He hadn't meant it to. He was still acclimatising himself to this style of conversation. Anzu sobered under it considerably, her laughter died away and a tic near her mouth appeared.

"And so do you Kaiba." He abased himself.

Trying to recover the moment Anzu turned the conversation towards his trip.

"You must have had a good time while you were away."

"As good as you can have on a business trip."

"Somehow I don't think it was all business, you seem…Oh I don't know, more relaxed."

From his seat directly across Seto fixed her with an enquiring eye.

"And you think that this can only be attributed to my time away. Why not the fact that I'm here in my own house."

"You're never relaxed here." Came the quick reply. She'd taken to rolling the glass between her hands while talking, her mind now wandering into its own dark corners.

"Seto?"

"Hmm, what?" He didn't know why, but her sudden silence had disturbed him. Maybe it was the tension in her expression that caused it but he was thankful to hear her speak.

"Why do you never call it home?"

"Would you?" He said pushing himself out of the chair and exiting the room.

Anzu thought about this. On reflection, no she wouldn't either. It, for all its ornateness and structural beauty, was sterile, devoid of the one element that made a home what it was. Love.

Seto's head peered around the door.

"Are you coming?"

Anzu was notably flustered. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I was meant to."

Standing she straightened the cushion on the chair and joined him at the door."

"I forgot subtlety wasn't a strong point with you." He walked away.

One day I'll wipe that smirk clean off his face. She thought giving a quick skip to catch up.

She wondered idly where they were going as he led her through areas she had never seen before. The surprise at each new thing showed plainly on her attractive face. Her eyes bright with excitement. Seto watched every change of emotion closely. Reaching a doorway he turned the handle, stiff from not being used for so long. He seemed pensive about pushing open the door.

"It seems I owe you yet another apology."

"What for this time?"

"It seems I underestimated your ability to mind your own business, I was certain you would have gone snooping around while I was gone."

Anger filled Anzu's eyes their hue now that of dark sapphires instead of the calm sea they normally were. She set her mouth in a dangerous line.

"How dare you." She spat.

He knew he should have expected it but he hadn't been prepared for the intensity of her response.

"I couldn't give two hoots about you or your stupid house. I was here for Mokuba. Contrary to popular belief I don't believe in putting my nose where its not wanted and I don't go prying and poking through peoples personal business.

"Then why do constantly insinuate yourself into ours?" He retorted. His ire rising as much as hers.

If he hadn't been prepared for the swift and fiery response, then he certainly wasn't ready for the equally swift hand that knocked his head sideways, leaving a stinging slap mark in its wake.

Blue storms warred against dark sapphires as he backed her into the nearby corner, towering menacingly over her. She began to cower.

"Don't you ever hit me again." He hissed

The tears that brimmed her eyes in anger now ran hot and fast down her cheeks.

"Then don't hit me." She stammered.

His look was incredulous.

"I didn't hit you." He yelled accusingly

"Just because you didn't raise a hand against me, doesn't mean you didn't hit me. It doesn't always have to be physical you know." Slowly she was regaining her courage, his uncertain stance lending her the strength she needed.

Seto cringed as memories consumed his mind. The taunting he received as a child filling every space.

"No, it doesn't." he conceded.

She reached a hesitant hand toward his face. Gently she brushed away the tear that had dared to escape.

Seto's legs gave way. Attempting to ease the impact with the floor, Anzu grabbed for his middle, sinking with him as his dead weight bore them down. He gripped her as Mokuba had that day, crying just as uncontrollably. As she had with Mokuba, she laid her head upon his own. With a hand resting on his back she began to rock gently.

With Seto having cried himself to sleep Anzu tried to rearrange herself to accommodate them both. Carefully she shifted her legs, moving slowly so as not to wake him. The sharp tingle in her feet alerting her that circulation had returned. Softly she stroked his hair, leaning her own back against the wall she briefly closed her eyes. Twisting her head she gazed upward at the door.

"I wonder what's behind you." She whispered, her eyes beginning to close again.

She dozed lightly, waking now and then to the sound of Seto talking in his sleep. The tenseness in his body alerting her that the dreams were fraught with trouble, his body, however, began to relax and through what was almost a sigh she heard.

"Angela."

Cold. No freezing would be the better description for the hard surface beneath him. Disoriented he lifted his head from its warm but firm cushion. Wincing from the aches in his joints he tried to shift from the position he was currently in. The tiny coverlet on his arms slipped away.

Understanding began to dawn on Seto's muddled brain. What was once an inanimate object now took the form of the very much living and breathing Anzu Mazaki.

Reining in the conflicting emotions, he forced himself to face her.

"Hey, " she called softly. A small sleepy smile shining in her eyes, lifted the corners of her mouth. "I began to think…."

The thought was never voiced as she felt herself swept away by the firm and demanding mouth of her dreams.

Breathless Seto pulled away.

"I'm sorry that shouldn't have happened. I …"

"You thought I was Angela, it's okay I understand, you were still half asleep." Her voice carried the sadness lurking behind her blue eyes.

Seto was reduced to silence. How could she have known about Angela, standing he offered her his hand and pulled her to her feet.

Anzu bit the inside of her bottom lip, hoping to stop the tears from falling again. Seeing the questioning look within his eyes she spoke.

"You said her name in your sleep. You were having nightmares and then ….I think I understand why you're so relaxed now. She must be very nice."

Seto had to use all that was in him to close his emotions from his face wanting desperately to play the role of the untouchable CEO.

"She was one of the flight attendants. And yes she was, but I think for now we had both better go to bed."

Anzu nodded, her gesture lost on his retreating back. Looking back once more at the door she followed.

a/n - it's a wonder you all haven't put up a missing persons notice. Two whole days to update, what's the world coming too