I told you I was coming back! Well, here it is. Took longer than I expected because I revised it several times, and I'm also working really hard on rewriting chapter three, because I don't like it. So look out for a new chapter three sometime in the future.
And thanks to mandybelle, ayame11midori, Tyronica, Gaignun Girl, dragoneyes5000, Luvinanimanga, angel and yugioh rocks . I love your feedback, so thank you.
Chapter Five: Escape
Seto sat in the front tables of the Café Ciel and silently sipped his coffee, waiting for Naomi's Mustang to pull up. Or had she gotten something new? It had been a long while since they had last seen each other.
Naomi was a sweet girl, Seto had to admit, but they both equally knew that the marriage was absolutely worthless. Seto thought that Naomi either asked to marry him because of the money, fame or just because she felt sorry for him. True, Naomi always treated him like a sick puppy dog.
And he was a bit like one five years ago. He had been oh-so hurt when Anzu had stormed out the door! He had even considered apologizing but that stupid thought went out the door when he heard that she had hopped on a plane to New York, eager to escape him.
"It wasn't my fault." Seto murmured to himself as he blew at his coffee again. "She's just so damn sensitive." He sighed and resigned to once again looking for Naomi, though he was already irritated that she was a tad late.
Suddenly the door chime tinkled and Seto looked up to see the new arrival. Perhaps Naomi had parked further away and had walked in? Instead, were two very familiar faces.
"Damn it!" Seto swore before quickly ducking his head away. Of all places!
He watched the couple walk towards the payment counter and Seto, who begged the heavens above not to let them see him, quietly slid towards the door, but when he opened it, the wind chimes went off again, and a familiar blonde head turned towards him.
"Oh my gosh! Seto? Is that you? Seto Kaiba?"
"Well, hello…Mai and….Jou." Seto managed to spit out, refraining from his usual 'Mutt' greeting.
"Oh! Seto, I never thought we'd see you here!" Mai laughed as she dragged the reluctant CEO to a table. "What a coincidence." Jou only glared at his old arch-nemesis.
"Yes, it is a small world." Seto managed to say softly. His cursed luck!
"Well, Jou and I were just vacationing here." Mai explained as a waitress came up with a few deli sandwiches and beverages. "But fancy meeting you here! When was the last time we saw each other?"
"It's been too long." Seto lied and sipped his forgotten coffee. He reveled in the scalding feeling down his throat. Maybe it'll have mercy on him and just burn out his vocal chords so he didn't have to talk to them.
Jou practically snorted, "It's not been long enough." He muttered quietly. Mai shot him a glare before continuing,
"It's been a couple years, huh?"
"I believe so."
"Is that a plane ticket stub in your pocket?" Mai asked curiously as Jou continued to glare. Seto had half the mind to throw his coffee at him.
"It is." Seto admitted. "I just got in from New York."
"New York?" Jou exclaimed, as he thought of another significant person who also happened to reside in the Big Apple… "Why doesn't-"
"Your cousin's wife's family lives there don't they Jou?" Mai cut in before Jou blurted out Anzu's delicate name. Everyone knew the tension ran high between the former friends.
"No," Jou cut in, not getting Mai's hint. "We just saw them last month in Osaka! I meant Anzu!"
Mai sighed deeply and Seto glared into his frothing coffee while Jou finally realized his mistake. "Oh! Um…did I say Anzu? I meant…uh….oh…err….nothing."
And uncomfortable silence followed before Seto finally noticed a car pull onto the side of the café, an elegant woman sitting inside. Thank heavens Naomi was finally here!
"Oh, my ride is here and I have to go." Seto noted standing up before stiffly saying a 'good-bye' and walking out. He could hear Mai murmuring behind him, and just when he was almost out, a small gasp emitted behind him.
Unfortunately, fate refused to leave him alone, and Mai rushed out the door, to greet her "favorite model/actress!" Naomi Kuzimi, not realizing that the model was in fact Seto's ride.
"Are you really Naomi Kuzimi?" Mai gushed slightly as she stared in amazement at the beautiful woman. Mai was never one to really gush, but everyone sometimes feels like jell-o in front of an A-list star.
"That's me." Naomi smiled brilliantly out of the seat of her bright red convertible.
"This is amazing, I never thought to see you here! I knew you lived in Nice, but…do you eat at this café?" Mai questioned in excitement as she leaned over the open passenger seat window, her face all lighted with excitement.
"Actually, I'm here to pick up a friend."
"Oh, I must say I'm really a big fan of yours! I loved your character on…oh! I love every one of your roles! I was so devastated when you left the business! I mean, I heard that you got married or something….but! Oh, I absolutely love all your work!"
"That's very sweet of you." Naomi said kindly, as she missed all the fans she used to have before she quite acting and modeling. "What's your name?"
"Oh, it's Mai. M-A-I."
"Do you live in Nice, Mai?"
"No, my fiancé and I are only vacationing. But we love Nice. We're planning on still staying for awhile."
"Do you like it here?"
"I really do, I mean the environment in France is amazing!" Mai said excitedly. "Do you live here with your husband? I'm so sorry, who was he again? I totally missed it in the tabloids."
Naomi laughed sweetly. "Yes, I now live in Nice, but only for awhile. As for my husband, well, that's him right there. You might have heard of him: Seto Kaiba, of Kaiba Corp.?" Naomi asked as she pointed to Seto standing awkwardly in the doorway to the cafe.
Mai's jaw nearly dropped and she let out a small gasp.
"You're married to that guy?"
"Uh-huh." Naomi nodded, a little confused at Mai's surprise. "Do you know him?"
"Yeah!" Mai exclaimed as Seto nodded to acknowledge the fact. He wanted to die right now. When he saw Mai rush up to Naomi, he was so surprised, and that feeling very quickly turned into morbid shock.
"Well, that's great! So come and visit us sometime!" Naomi invited as Seto pushed past Mai and sat in the driver's seat.
"Seto! You never told me you were married!" Mai exclaimed in surprise. "What about-" A sudden hard jab in the ribs from Jou reminded her of her words and Mai closed her mouth.
"Uh…all right! See you around?" Mai said weakly.
"Sure. Don't forget to visit. I'll get Seto to get in contact with you." Naomi smiled and started the ignition. "Bye!"
Mai managed a little wave as she and Jou watched the couple drive away. "Can you believe it?" Mai asked softly. "Naomi Kuzimi and Seto Kaiba? That's odd."
Jou sighed. "I wonder if Anzu knows?"
-
Anzu sighed as she wandered aimlessly around Central Park, hands stuffed in her pockets and mouth covered with a scarf. She had the entire day to rest until another performance that night, but she only wanted to think.
Seto Kaiba, married! It was almost as if Anzu felt her heart breaking once again. No matter what Mokuba said, Anzu wondered if Seto really did love this new woman.
"Like he doesn't love me." She said softly to the wind before continuing down the creek. Once she imagined that perhaps the two of them could pursue a relationship, but that dream had ended poorly.
Suddenly Anzu felt anger at Seto's marriage. How could he just go and want to be friends and come so close to admitting something deeper, when he was married? Was he purposely leading her on only so he could destroy her again? That jerk!
Anzu sighed and sat herself on a bench facing the river. Why was life so fickle? She was getting along just fine till Seto came back, and that almost-confession might have meant something until she found out he was married!
Looking at the creek reminded her of the moment when she and Seto had first become friends. She sighed deeply before shoving her hands deeper into her coarse pockets. That creek looked just like the lake in Domino Park…
It was already winter and nature was covered in white. Snow blanketed every blade of grass, every leaf on a bush and every branch on a tree in the park, and it truly was a winter wonderland.
The once burbling lake was silent and glassy under its frozen surface. It was just so beautiful that Anzu could not resist taking a walk.
It didn't matter that mid-terms were coming up and life was a hectic jumble, out here it was peaceful. She had walked upon the northern edge of the lake for quite awhile, until a sharp wind gripped her toque and flung it onto the middle of the tranquil lake.
She had gasped as it floated there, in a soggy lump. She had cursed as she watched it just sit on the water. It had been her favorite toque too, a present from Serenity who had knitted it herself. Anzu had really liked that toque.
At first she could only stare at it, wondering what she was going to do. Then she saw the boats, lined up by the docks. Although the air was chilly, the lake had still not frozen and couples still liked to rent out the boats for a romantic cruise.
She had ran into the store and had rented a boat. It seemed ridiculous now, seeing how she had gone through some much trouble for a silly, lopsided toque, but it had meant a lot to Anzu.
It was the middle of a hectic day, and the park was mostly empty so Anzu set out in that boat all by herself, and began to paddle further into that lake of desolation.
It was lonely and beautiful at the same time. Her oars had silently dipped beneath the glassy surface of the water as she traversed the lake.
It was so quiet, and peaceful, that after Anzu had managed to retrieve her dripping toque from the icy water, she decided to continue on further for a paddle.
The air was chilly, but the sun was still shining over the perfect day and Anzu awkwardly glided through the water. She was no expert on paddling, but it didn't matter.
She rounded the little island in the centre of the lake before approaching the picturesque bridge that hung low over the water.
She just glided over the water, watching as the wind rustled the leaves.
Then, she saw the thick black scarf floating on the water. So she hadn't been the only one to have been foiled by the playful breeze.
Suddenly a voice called over the silence. "Hey! Pick that up for me."
Anzu looked up, surprised to see the icy voice match that of the icy CEO standing atop the bridge.
"Oh, it's you." Seto had said darkly, sounding disgusted.
"Hello. Enjoying your day?" Anzu had said back.
"I want my scarf back."
"Did the wind blow off your manners too?" Anzu asked sarcastically, although she made in the direction of the scarf.
"Please." Seto finished, without the slightest bit of sincerity.
Anzu glided over to the inky spot and picked up the scarf, leaving it on one of the seats for it to dry alongside her toque. "I'm going to row back to the marina, meet me there." Anzu then explained as she picked up the oars again.
"Can't you just throw it?"
"No." Anzu said simply before gliding away.
-
Anzu had casually floated back to the marina docks, where Seto was standing darkly, his face ablaze with irriation and impatience.
"Did you row around the world first?" he asked bitterly.
"Ah, that wind is blowing hard. Lost your manner again?"
"Hmm. I just want my scarf." Seto said silently as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, his neck cold and bare.
"No can do Mr. Grumpy. I think you should retrieve your manners first."
"Fine. Thanks." Seto said so coldly that the words basically formed as icicles in the air.
Anzu sighed. It was the most that she was going to get out of this rude man.
"Here." She said as she stood up and handed the scarf over to Seto on the dock.
Perhaps Anzu had been hodling the scarf too tightly and close to her body, or perhaps Seto had yanked too hard and too quickly, but the next moment Anzu had tripped over the boat and landed in the murky water.
Seto watched in surprise as she arose from the neck deep water, her body all wet and her face furious.
"No! Now I'm all wet. That's what I get for going in your radius of doom!"
"Now, it's just a bit of lake water." Seto said in annoyance.
"Yes, where is' freezing!" Anzu gasped, shivering. "Help pull me up."
Seto had begrudgingly agreed and hauled a dripping and freezing Anzu from the water. "I need to change. I'm freezing. I'm going to get hypothermia. I'm going to die."
"You aren't. Stop whining." Seto chided. Anzu glared icy daggers into him, but he didn't even look at her twice.
"Here, take my coat, and change in the bathroom of the marina. I'll take care of mooring the boat."
He quickly took off his jacket and threw it at Anzu. She only managed to grab it as she stared at him.
"What are you doing? Waiting for hypothermia?" He barked.
Anzu's teeth chattered. "I never even thought you could be nice. I mean…"
"It's bad for publicity if you die saving my scarf. Now go!" Seto said finally as he leaned over to begin tying up the boat. Anzu wasn't sure if he was joking, but she didn't care. She ran to the marina.
-
His jacket was surprisingly warm and fit her quite comfortably. She wasn't completely naked under it, for she was far too modest, but she could still feel the soft material touch against her skin. Like it had touched against him.
That one gesture completely changed Anzu's perspective on that cold man however, and just like she was beginning to warm up her body, she began to warm up to him as well.
And that's how it had begun.
They had talked afterwards. Just them in the desolate park. Their enjoyable conversation surprised the both of them. And when everything had dried enough, and the jacket had been returned, the warmth didn't fade.
They both left with the feeling of the start of something new.
-
It had been so long ago. And the times and their situation had been so much easier. But she couldn't bear to think of them now. So much raw pain there.
Anzu headed away from the park, not noticing how the leaves on the trees shook like the used to…
-
"So, how are you?" Naomi asked in the car as she and Seto drove away.
Seto didn't react.
"Hello? Anybody there?"
Still nothing.
"Seto Kaiba!"
Seto finally reacted and turned to face her, his face angry. "What?!"
"Where were you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You were completely out of it."
"I was thinking." Seto explained.
"About what?"
Seto hesitated. "Business." He lied.
Naomi could see that he was lying, but didn't press further. Their relationship, or lack thereof, was definitely not built on trust.
"That girl seemed nice." Naomi suddenly noted after another awkward silence.
"Who? Mai? Or Jou?" Seto couldn't help but throw it in.
"Mai."
"Hmm."
"How do you know her again?" Naomi asked.
"She was a part of the group, with Yugi. I can't say I like her that much, since she hangs out with that mutt so much."
"Jou? The blonde guy?"
"Brain the size of an amoeba."
Naomi didn't say anything. She still wondered about Mai. Was she the woman that Naomi had never met, but knew so well? She didn't think so.
Besides for having that beauty, no brains image, Naomi could tell that Seto had never had any interest in her. It had always been someone else. It was the great secret of their relationship.
Naomi did care for Seto, although she didn't understand to what extent. It wasn't the magical "Love" feeling that great poets are immortalized for describing, but rather something different. She had grow up with five younger brothers, and perhaps Seto was just like one of them. He just needed someone to care.
She had met him at this big society function. There, he was, lounging at the side of the room, grimly handsome. Women wanted to go up to him, to be near his seductive mysterious lure, but he also radiated another sensation. Someone else should've been there with him.
She was daring though. Everyone adored her, and if anyone in the room stood a chance, it was stunning Naomi Kuzimi.
That was how they had met. Two cold hellos in a cold time.
Their relationship gave new meaning to "whirlwind". Not only was it fast, but it was an ugly thing to see, hurtling through with no care. Their relationship was always surrounded by a haze, of lost, unknown secrets. Most of them took the shape of her.
Naomi was not jealous of her. Nor disgusted or had any feeling of all towards her. She was just curious. Who was she? What was she to melt Seto's icy heart? Did she understand that Seto loved her so? Did she return the feelings?
And the most important question. Why was Naomi here instead of this woman?
Naomi pulled into her home. The car still reeked of silence and deep thoughts. Naomi knew that he was thinking of her.
-
The shows were over. The ballet had finished its run. Anzu didn't know whether to be happy that it was successful, or sad that it was all over.
People had liked her. It wasn't the instant adoration that she had wished for, but it was enough in the tough industry. Anzu, of all people, knew it was hard to win people's love.
That night, after the celebrations and parties had ended, Uncle Spencer was driving her home.
Although he was happy for her, he was her uncle and he could understand that small ounce of sadness that caused her to stare out the window so desolately.
"So it's over. You were great dear."
"Thanks."
"I have a present for you though, you know?"
Anzu turned around and smiled. "As if the flowers every night and encouragement wasn't enough. You do spoil me."
"That is what uncles are for." Uncle Spencer winked.
"So, what is it?"
"A surprise."
Anzu sighed and turned back to the window. She knew better than to try and squeeze the secret out of her uncle. He was never going to budge.
They made small talk until they arrived at her apartment.
"I'll wait down here." Uncle Spencer explained as Anzu stepped out.
Anzu raised an eyebrow. "Whatever for?"
"Your surprise. So go upstairs dear and pack up your bag."'
Anzu gasped. "A trip? Now?"
"Surprise!"
"But it's so late!"
"You can sleep on the plane."
"A flight?" Anzu gasped. "Where?"
"Well, I know it doesn't sound very…" Uncle Spencer began.
Anzu suddenly began to laugh. "Nice. I know. Uncle Spence, what were you thinking of in your crazy mind when you bought the tickets?"
"Your happiness."
Anzu was silent. "He won't make me happy Uncle. He'll just hurt me again."
"Well, what are you going to do now? Sit at home until next dance season starts and think about what could've been?" Uncle Spencer asked wisely. "Anzu, I don't grow old without having taken some wisdom from my experiences. Go talk to him."
Anzu shivered and admitted, "but I'm terrified. It hurt so badly Uncle Spencer."
"And it'll hurt more if you don't get this weight off your heart."
"And he's married."
"And Mokuba explained that it was a mistake."
"What if Mokuba's wrong? What if Seto has fallen in love with someone else?" Anzu asked.
"Then you can enjoy a nice vacation in Nice with your favorite uncle." Uncle Spencer smiled.
Anzu looked to the sky, before finally letting out a smile. "All right. I'll do it! No matter how many mistakes I've made, you can't say that Anzu Mazaki didn't try!"
"'Atta girl! My gear's already packed in the trunk. I knew that you would come."
"Uncle Spencer…"
"You can thank me later. Now, hurry and grab some clothes and stuff. We have a plane to catch!"
-
That's it for now. More coming soon. I am just finishing the outline for this story and I think it should be over in a few chapters. Although I love this story, I'm itching to start something new.
Oh, and Naomi. Although she seems like the obvious villain, she won't be. I do have plans for her, and the real villain. But that's later.
So, 'till next time! Mintt.