"So you've put two and two together, and with Rose' help come up with five." Seto commented dryly.

Anzu just glared and turned her back to him.

"Ignoring me won't make me go away. I'm actually quite a patient person, regardless of my temper."

No answer.

He stepped further into the kitchen. She struggled with her own resolve not to turn and look at him. She bit down on her lip with as much force as she could stand, to stop from talking. Annoyed she flicked away a loose bit of hair from her face, only to have it fall back in her eyes again. She blew impatiently at the strand, but could not control it. Like everything else it was against her. She lifted her hand to move it again only to find that another had beaten her to it. So wrapped within her own little world she hadn't felt him close in, turning quickly she found herself hard against the front of him. Her earlier intention to hurt flared but was unable to do anything as he pinned her wrists tight within his own hold.

"Once bitten, twice shy." He explained to her angered look at his hands.

"Let me go." She hissed.

"Not a chance, I've already received one slap from you, and I don't plan on feeling it again."

"I wouldn't put myself out."

"Wouldn't you just, I can see it plainly in your eyes that you want me to hurt like you think I've hurt you."

She pulled vainly to release herself but was unable to budge the tightly wound fingers keeping her arms in place.

"Why don't you stop and listen and then I'll let you go. If you still feel like lashing out then, be my guest."

"Nothing you could say, would interest me. Why I'm here and how I get to New York is nobody's business but yours, right?"

"Wrong. I said it was none of Rose' business. See you've still got two and two making five." His own eyes now turning dark with coming ire.

"Oh so I'm to be privileged and hear how appeasing my father with the sale of our house to your girlfriend is going to make all his wishes for me and consequently himself come true. Well let me thank you once and for all from the Mazaki's and assure you that in eight days time you won't ever have to think about any of us again."

Letting her go suddenly he stepped back. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he spoke.

"I'd hoped you would use that part of you that has common sense, but I see that Rose has accomplished her task well." Regaining his cold assurance he continued. "You're right, my reasons for doing this are no one's business but my own. I've booked your flight to New York, it was part of the agreement before you get on your high horse, I wish you well when you get there. In the mean time I ask that you try and keep your hate for me check so that the last few days are pleasant for Mokuba. This is our fight not his."

Anzu was duly abashed. Mokuba, the innocent party in all this, how could she make it up to him. It was possibly one of the most absurd statements to follow the argument with but rational thought was ebbing at its lowest.

"I'm making dinner for us all, is that okay?" Voice meek.

Seto had been walking towards the door, his back to her, with a hard set to his eyes he glanced back and nodded.

The next two days passed by uncomfortably. Seto rarely appeared, but when he did the tension of previous days would envelope all that had preceded his arrival. She knew without a doubt that his time away was not always spent at the office, tiny bits of conversation between Mokuba and him on the phone gave credence to that. She just didn't want to think about where that time was being spent, it made her own heart ache too much.

"Pull yourself together, it's none of your business." She chided herself.

"Isn't it?" Came the two bobs worth of her mind.

"No! It's not."

"Then stop thinking about it." Her mind retaliated.

"Easy for you to say." She countered.

"Easy for you to do, or does Pandora's box still hold something for you?" It continued in sly tones.

"Hardly, he made it all too plain the other day."

"Did he, I don't recall him saying so, not in so many words, or any words for that fact?"

"Your playing with me, stop it."

"I'm your conscience, I'm meant to."

She buried her hands deep into her and shook her head, but the inner voice would not leave.

"There is a way to find out you know." It continued, enjoying its hold on her.

"NO, don't even think about it, he'd kill me."

"He wouldn't have to know."

"Oh wouldn't he just, I suddenly turn up on the doorstep and they're in the middle of something, yeah he'd know all right."

"So you make sure he's not there."

Anzu chewed on her bottom lip.

"Something bothering you Mazaki?"

Guilt was written in big black letters across her face.

"NO!" It was almost a squeak.

"Right, well there's a phone call for you."

She gave her thanks and scooted before her nervousness could be called into question.

"Hello Anzu speaking."

"Ms Mazaki, Jack Price here, how ya doin'?"

"Um fine. I'm sorry your name's not familiar, have we met?"

A pause came from the other end of the receiver. His breathing the only indication he was still there.

"I can't say as I've had the pleasure yet, but ya have met my son and daughter. I'm Rose' father."

"Oh."

He laughed. "Yes sir, I'm afraid my little gal does tend to have that effect. Now I hope she hasn't been doin' anythin' to upset you."

Anzu twisted the phone cord in agitation, noticing for the first time that Seto had followed her and showed no signs of leaving.

"Ms Mazaki, are ya still with me?"

Snapping out of her trance, she answered. "Yes Mr Price, I'm still here."

"Jack please, Mr Price is my father."

She fancied she saw Seto's eyes narrow at the mention of the caller's name. Though why she couldn't fathom, after all it was he who told her she had a phone call.

"Well Mr.. sorry Jack how can I help you?"

"Actually it's what I can do for you that I'm calling. I understand from my Rose that you're quite somethin'."

Anzu caught the inside of her cheek between her back teeth. This could not be good, particularly after the showdown with Seto the other day.

Sensing that she was not going to answer, Jack continued. "I got a proposition for ya Ms Mazaki, now ya don' haveta answer straight away, think about it and get back to me, okay."

"And it is?"

Thirty minutes later she placed the receiver back on its cradle. Seto still stood, hands in pocket, leaning against the door jam.

"What did he want?"

She looked up. "It's rude to listen into other's conversations."

Seto ignored this and asked again. "What did he want?"

Sighing in defeat she answered. "He had a proposition for me."

Seto's rapid straightening set her nerves on edge.

"What?" His voice low and dangerous.

"I'm to think it over and get back to him." Anzu stumbled over the words.

"What are you to think over and get back to him about?"

"I can't tell you," she said quickly.

He lurched forward gripping her shoulders painfully.

"You will tell me, and tell me now." He bit down on the last word to emphasise his point.