Ok I'm sorry for the long wait but I got like halfway through the chapter and couldn't really think of anything. But now it's finished and I'm slowly working on chapter for. Also, I've gone back and added in lyrics that I thought went with each chapter...it took awhile to find the right one...and of course I ended up going with Evanescence songs for the first three chapters. I have no idea yet what song I'll use for the next one if I use any at all. So here's the chapter enjoy!
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Ryou was waiting by the school gates after school. She wasn't in class but he knew she was at school because he had seen her earlier and he was really worried. Especially after reading the note she left in his locker.
Meet me after school, by the front gate
-Dear my love haven't you wanted to be with me
And dear my love haven't you longed to be free
I can't keep pretending that I don't even know you
And at sweet night you are my own…
Take my hand-
That was it. No further explanations. He looked towards the front of the school and saw Anzu walking towards him. He frowned as he noted the look on her face. It wasn't angry nor was it sad. It was devoid of any emotion but he could see her inner struggle to keep it that way. However when she looked up at him, her mask slipped and she nearly burst into tears.
"Anzu what's wrong?" He asked, his voice was deep with concern.
It took her a moment before she was able to speak.
"I came to school early this morning. On my way to my locker, Atemu grabbed me and pulled me into an empty classroom. I guess so he could talk to me privately. He began asking why I was hanging out with you and started calling you names and all. He got upset when I began defending you…(long pause)…and then Malik, Marik, Bakura and Kaiba. When he asked me whose side have I been on…" She trailed off, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Ryou waited patiently for her to continue.
"I told him everything. About how I used to respect him, that I even liked him but those feelings are no longer there after what he said about you that day Bakura left. And then…he must've told my friends during third period right before lunch. I don't have that class with them. We usually meet up before we go to the cafeteria. Well they did show up but…" Her voice trailed again.
"But what Anzu? What happened?" Ryou exclaimed.
"They all listened to him and took his side. Then I said that if this is how they were going to treat you, then I didn't want any part of them anymore." She answered, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm down. "The worst part was they didn't say anything. They weren't shocked or hurt; they just turned and walked away." She added, nearly in tears.
Ryou was shocked that they would do that to her. Then she started crying and Ryou immediately pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"It'll be all right Anzu." He told her.
"It really hurts. I've known them since we were little; I can't believe they would do this to me." She said.
"I know." He whispered as he rubbed her back.
He spotted her group of friends walking a few yards away. He could feel his anger building up. He managed to get Anzu to stop crying and walk with him. He took her to her house and asked if she was hungry.
"I don't think I'll be able to eat right now. I won't be able to keep it down. I think I'll go lay down. She said.
"All right, now if you need me I'll be downstairs, ok?" He told her.
Anzu nodded. Then she suddenly hugged him and kissed his cheek. Pulling back, she took his hands in hers.
"Thank you for being patient and so understanding with me…I really appreciate it." She said as she looked at their intertwined hands.
"You're welcome. I'm always here if you need me…you just have to ask." He said.
"I will. Thank you Ryou." She repeated then turned and went upstairs.
-We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the morning's light
We'll be halfway to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name-
The next day when they went to school, Anzu never felt more out of place then she did at that moment. Usually she met up with her friends before school started but from now wouldn't be. It eased the pain a bit knowing Ryou was there with her but it still hurt. And she knew it would be some time until she got over it. Ryou silently watched Anzu as the days passed on. They still went out, she still went to her classes but he noticed that a little piece of her would fall away with each passing day as if she were a jigsaw puzzle that was coming apart. Ryou thought of taking Anzu away from Domino but he didn't know when nor did he know if it would do her any good. He knew summer break was coming up soon; they had about two weeks left. He decided to surprise her with a trip; he just needed to make a phone call first. When the two weeks went up by, Anzu sprung a surprise of her own.
"My ballet instructor wants to send me to another academy for the summer to further my training." She exclaimed gleefully.
"Where?" He asked in slight alarm but he didn't let it show, she was genuinely happy about something for the first time in the last few weeks and he didn't want to ruin it.
"Egypt…Cairo more specifically. Ironically it's right by where Isis lives." She answered as she sat in his lap.
Ryou started to laugh which greatly confused Anzu.
"What is so funny?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I was planning on taking you out of the country." He said.
"Where?" She asked.
"Ironically to that very city." He answered with a smile.
A smile broke out on Anzu's face. She tilted her face to him and dropped a kiss on his lips. As she moved to stand, he pulled her back in his lap and kissed her.
-I have dreamt of a place for you and I
No one knows who we are there
All I want is to give my life only to you
I've dreamt so long I cannot dream anymore
Let's run away I'll take you there!-
They began their preparations the next day. Anzu told her instructor she would go to the Academy and she was wished the best of luck by her classmates. Every summer the instructor would send a student to an academy best suited for them and she knew it would be only a matter of time before her turn came; she had seen the signs for weeks and now it had finally come.
She was glad Ryou would be there with her, she was going to need all of his support; she still wasn't quite over the betrayal of her friends. Normally she would be celebrating with them about this next step in her life but ala that would never happen. Tonight they were leaving and no one would know until they were gone. They were to arrive early in the afternoon and Isis would meet them at the airport to pick them up. They arrived at the house about an hour after their plane landed.
"Where is Malik? I wanted to say 'hi' before going to lie down." Anzu asked Isis.
"Oh, he won't be back until later this evening. He, Marik, and Bakura had to go out of town for a few days to retrieve an artifact for me. It's taking awhile because they went by camel instead." She replied.
Ryou looked at her in surprise. "Bakura's here?" He asked.
"Oh yes, he came to visit for about a week." Isis answered.
"I'm feeling a little jet-lagged so I think I'll turn in for a bit." Anzu said.
"All right. I'll come wake you later on to eat." Ryou said.
"Ok." She agreed as she stretched up a bit to give him a kiss.
He watched her walk away until she disappeared down the hall then turned back to Isis who had a knowing smile on her face.
"I see you two are together?" She asked.
"Yes for about a month now." He replied.
"So what brings you here?" Isis asked as she moved towards the kitchen.
"Well Anzu has been sent to a ballet academy near here by her instructor to help further her training." Ryou began as he sat down.
"Really? That's wonderful." Isis exclaimed.
"Yes well I had originally planned on bringing her here to get away from Domino because of Atemu." He told her.
"What happened?" Isis asked with a confused frown as she set their drinks on the table.
"Well he didn't like the fact that Anzu was hanging out with me. He had cornered her in a classroom and demanded that she stop seeing me. Well she said no and that upset him. He told her friends and they confronted her. She told them that if they were going to treat me this way then she wanted no part of them and they just walked away. She was in such a horrible state for the next two weeks but yet she acted as if nothing happened. She's not quite over it yet but I know it'll come in time." Ryou explained.
"Oh dear…my brother's will not be happy if they hear this." Isis said.
Ryou shook his head in agreement. Their conversation continued until late in the afternoon. Ryou went to wake Anzu so that she could eat. After they ate, Ryou went to go lay down as jetlag was beginning to take its toll on him.
-We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the morning's light
We'll be halfway to anywhere
Where no one needs a reason-
"Anzu come with me would you? I have something that you could wear that would be more suitable for the weather." She offered.
"All right." Anzu said as she followed her.
Isis gave her a long flowing white skirt with a low neck, long sleeved, white, mid-drift baring shirt. Both were made of a thin material so she wouldn't get hot but her skin wouldn't be barbequed in the scorching midday sun. She helped her tieback he long hair so her neck would stay cool.
"Thank you very much Isis." Anzu said.
"It's not a problem. Perhaps we can go into town in the next day or so to get you a few things." Isis suggested.
"That would be nice." Anzu agreed.
The two spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and cleaning the place up a bit.
-
Ryou woke early in the evening and went outside. When he stepped foot outside, he saw Malik, Marik and Bakura on their way back. He stood, leaning against the doorframe, waiting for them to approach. Marik was the first to notice him.
"This isn't the welcome I was hoping for." He said.
"Guess you'll just have to keep on dreaming then won't you Marik?"
Bakura snapped his head up, diverting his attention away from the camel and looked up at the house; a familiarity that he once had returned in an instant.
"Ryou what are you doing here?" He asked.
"Visiting-" He began.
"Ryou?" a female voice called out.
"While she is here to attend a nearby dance academy." He continued.
'She?' was Malik, Marik, and Bakura's thought. Their unsaid question was answered when she stepped outside, her long hair now blowing lightly in the breeze.
"What is she doing here?" Marik asked.
"I said she was attending a nearby dance academy. There are other reasons as well of which I will explain. However, I assume dinner is ready so the explanation will have to wait until later." Ryou replied then followed Anzu into the house. The three guys each exchanged a confused look before tying up the camels and going inside as well.
-Forget this life
Come with me
Don't look back
You're safe now
Unlock your heart
Drop your guard
No one's left to stop you now-
Nighttime found the guys outside around a small fire. The fire was more of a light source than anything else as they were trying to play a game of cards but the wind was making it a bit difficult. They finally put a rock on the cards they laid down so they wouldn't get blown away.
"So why is the girl here Ryou?" Marik asked as he looked at his cards.
"Atemu." He answered and that was all he needed to say.
Then, just as suspected, three pairs of eyes rose up to look at him.
"Ahem…what did you say?" Bakura asked.
"You heard what I said." Ryou replied.
"What did he do now?" Malik asked.
"He abandoned Anzu and made her friends do the same." He answered then he told them the whole story. "And she's been a wreck ever since though you wouldn't know it by looking at her." He threw down two cards.
As Bakura was looking at his hand, contemplating what to do, his vision was momentarily blinded as something dark and soft was laid over his eyes. He growled softly in irritation.
"Lay one harmful hand on her…" Ryou began, letting his voice trail away.
Anzu smiled a bit at Ryou. Her smile wavered and her body froze up when she felt Bakura's hand go up her arm. She sucked in a breath sharply as his hand glided over her waist towards her back. She jumped, gasping aloud when that same hand groped her behind, making her hands fly from his face. She narrowed her eyes angrily and pushed back from him, slapping him on his back.
"Ass." She muttered.
He chuckled slightly as he moved away.
"Yes I know. You have a nice one too." He replied.
"I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered." She said.
"Take it however you want I don't care." He told her.
Anzu stuck her tongue out a t him, making a face as she sat down beside Ryou and looked at his hand. Ryou smiled inwardly, happy they were getting along.
"Do you know when you're classes are supposed to start?" Malik asked.
"No not yet. I have to go there and find out." She replied, keeping her eyes trained on the cards in Ryou's hand and the ones the other guys were placing down.
-Two Months Later-
"Anzu! You're going to be late if you don't come on!" Ryou yelled to her from outside.
"I know I'm trying to hurry!" She yelled back.
Ryou rolled his eyes and sighed; he knew that meant another ten or fifteen minutes. Then he got an idea that would speed her up.
"You insisted that the guys should go even though you know they don't want to. Don't make one of them come in there after you." He threatened.
"Like hell we will." Malik snapped.
"5…4…-" The other guys looked at him in confusion. "3…2…1…"
Anzu came darting out of the house right then.
"No!…no that's all right." She said.
The three guys snickered at this.
"All right come on." Ryou said.
Anzu was surprised when he lead her to a car.
"It's too far to go by camel and I don't want you to get overheated before you go on stage." Ryou explained at seeing her questioning expression.
She smiled at his sweet gesture. "Ok let's go." She said as she jumped into the car.
-We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the morning's light
We'll be halfway to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name…-
