(This took me a little longer to write, mostly because Mr. Clevenger, my history teacher, caught me writing this chapter in class while I was supposed to be studying and taking notes for a test of his. So I was busted and he kept his eye on me for quite a while. Old teacher aren't supposed to notice! And his class is usually when I have the most time to work on my fics. Then my internet connection got totally screwed up so I could not get on and post this. I think something was out to prevent me from posting... I apologize for taking so long on this but hope to make it up.)

Gomen: Sorry

Chapter Four

If she was here, it meant that for the first time in five long years he could stop dreaming and living in memories of the past. He could have the real thing again.

The applause that sounded was loud and rousing, a big smile on Anzu's face as she took her bow then hurried off the stage. It had been a week since her first performance and so far, this had been her third, with lots more promised. It was such a miracle. She never had actually believed that her dreams would come true. A small stage with no more than twenty people would have left her satisfied. Instead she was dancing in front of hundreds in one of Japan's biggest theatres.

She was ambushed backstage as she walked to her dressing room by Kikuyu Hanoi, a close friend that she had met and studied with back in America.

"Ohhhh... I'm so jealous!" the young woman laughed as they hugged.

Smiling along Anzu shook her head. "It's not all fun. One little mistake and I'm done for good with all those people out there watching me. It's scary. They were recording it too! Some local news reporters. I was so nervous."

"Purr-lease! You would never make a mistake, little miss perfect!"

"It might happen, you never know." Excusing herself Anzu continued her original trek but paused when she got to the door of her dressing room. On the floor right at her feet was a single yellow rose with a small note card tied to the stem. She smiled when she saw it and bent down to pick it up There was no surprise. It was probably Yugi, being a romantic as he always was.

She set the flower and note down on the make-up stand inside as she took off and hung up her dance attire, changing into pink sweats and a black T-shirt that read "L.O.V.E" in bold crimson letters.

Tidying up and getting her things together which she would need to take with her she snatched up the rose again just as she got ready to leave and placed it carefully in the folds of her purse so the blossoming head stuck out. She would have to thank Yugi later for it. She'd seen him in the audience again; he was there for every single one of her shows. He really was such a sweetheart and she adored him, sometimes even becoming very excited at the thought of being married to him. The wedding was planned to happen in six months.

At first she had not been so sure about it. He had proposed to her at least three times before she finally accepted. When they had begun dating, near a year and half ago, she had not thought it would become anything important. After all, back then, he was still only her friend and she had been clinging to her memories of Seto. She had to face it though, that part in her life was long over and there was hardly anything to change it. If Seto had remembered her and had wanted them to be together again, she probably would have known it by now. Yes, a week was not very long but she had seen her name all over television and the newspapers. Seto was not so ignorant to the world around him. He would know that she was here, but the pure truth was that he did not care, or so she believed.

Bidding her goodnight to her friends and the rest of the crew that worked with her she caught a taxi to drive her to her hotel room. She was as tired as she could get. It was late and dance was not something that was easy to get past by, it wore her out each time. The moment she was in her room she flopped down on the bed and pulled a pillow to her and the blankets up to her waist before fell straight asleep.

The next morning she woke up, rested and energized to the fullest. Nine AM. She had slept in a little but it did not matter. Today was her day off. She took a quick rinse through the shower, ordered breakfast from room service and clicked on the television set to let it play on some random movie. A few minutes later she sat on the bed, watching a commercial about a hair color product, nibbling on a grape that had come with her meal when her cell phone rang. Quickly she grabbed the remote control and switched the tv to mute to grab the portable phone from her purse. A swift glance at the caller ID told her that it was Yugi. That was when she saw the rose that she had forgotten about. Even after one night it was starting to look wilted so she quickly found a bottle of water, placing the stem of the flower down within the opening at the top. She took off the small laminated card, chatting lightly with Yugi for a while before she thanked him for leaving the rose for her.

His response was not one she had been expecting. "What rose?"

Now the smile was replaced by a frown. "I found a rose in front of my dressing room door last night. A yellow one, with a little note card attached. It says..." She opened the card for the first time but when she read the text inside she stiffened instantly. It was not Yugi's handwriting. And beside that, she knew right away that it had nothing whatsoever in any way been connected to her fiancé.

You're still as beautiful as ever, even after so long, like the first budding cherry blossom of spring. You've captivated me once again as though not a single thing has changed since our last night together.

Your guardian angel still watches.

Her knees went weak and she forgot how to breathe. It was enough to make her forget all about her conversation with Yugi. Only one man could be so sweet in love note this short. And she had read too many of them written by him to let it be mistaken. The very last sentence was more than enough to ensure it.

But why? Why had he not found and come to her instead of sending a flower and note? She did not care for romantic gifts if she could have him again.

"Anzu? Is everything okay?" The words broke through her thoughts and confusion.

"Oh, gomen, Yugi. C-... can I call you back later?" She did not wait for an answer but quickly shut the phone.

He had HAD to have been there. The idea of him being so close to her and not with her was very disagreeable with her. One glimpse, one stupid, little, passing, fleeting glimpse would have made her happy. She wanted to let her eyes feast on him, to feel his lean and firm body pressing to hers and his warm mouth granting her those delicious kisses.

Yes, she knew she should not feel this way. Especially not since she was engaged to Yugi. She did want to be with Yugi, right? RIGHT? Comparing Yugi to Seto, that was her problem. She simply did not feel that passion with Yugi. He was not the one who was always in her mind; it was not his caresses and ragged whispered love words that she dreamed about. And it was only an engagement... She could easily call it off... Only she would be breaking the heart of her closest friend if she did. Why did life have to be so unfair?

Time seemed to be flying by quickly and before she knew it, it had already been another two weeks. Every night after another performance she found yellow roses, sometimes alone and sometimes with another note with them.

This time she picked it up and shredded the flowers to pieces, tearing out the silk-like petals and breaking the stem into different parts. "Damnit Seto! Why won't you stop playing these ridiculous games!" She was nearly in tears. Tossing what was left of the ruined flower she also threw away the note that had been with it without reading it. She had watched for him. It was driving her crazy to know that he was leaving the little gifts for her but avoiding her for the rest of the time. What was his reason?

This was worse then it had been before. Then, she thought that her dreams of being with Seto again were nothing more than dreams. Now, she KNEW that he still had at least some affection for her and that they could be reunited and the fact that they were not angered her.

When or if she ever got her hands on him she would wring his neck until he collapsed at her feet, begging forgiveness. Right now, to her, Seto Kaiba was a hated, loathed, terrible, despised, insufferable, horrendous, and desperately wanted man.

(That's it for now. I'll promise that in the next chapter I will have the two of them together. One of my friends from school has already pounded and beat me up for taking so long and keeping them apart. She's a die-hard AnzuxSeto fan and is going crazy to see that my twisted ways of making people wait has been poured into this fiction. I hope you're all enjoying this so far. Don't be afraid to review. Compliments and comments feed my creativity and get me writing faster!)