Hey everyone! Here is the much wanted Chapter Three of Like the Rain! Thank you so much for your reviews so far, I feel so loved. I think you guys will like this chapter, or at least I hope so! As usual, my blurbs are at the end of the chapter. Please, read and review, or I might cry! Well, maybe not, but I'll still be sad… oh well, now that I'm finished with my emotional form of bribery, let the show, erm, story, begin!
RR
Like The Rain by Revolutionnaire Rouge
Chapter Three- Phone Home
"Anzu! Anzu! Come sit here!"
As Anzu entered the English classroom, Yami and Ryou waved her down, summoning her to sit in the empty seat between them.
"Morning Ryou, Morning Yami," she replied, setting her bag on her desk and her wet umbrella on the floor. It was raining again, big slow drops this time, and she imagined the rain would probably last all day. For some reason, the knowledge of that didn't bother her in the least, in fact, it was rather reassuring. She had slept well for the first night in ages, the patter of the rain on the roof of the top-story apartment lulling her to sleep. She wasn't sure if she liked the wetness of the air or the darkness of the sky, but with time it was becoming more bearable. Of course, it had helped that she'd remembered her umbrella that morning.
"Good Morning Anzu!" Yami said, his eyes shining in a way Anzu had never seen. There was a dashing smile fixed to his face, and an excited air around him. Excited to see me? she wondered as she struggled not to blush. She could only hope, deep inside that maybe, just maybe…
"Good morning Anzu…" she was distracted by the rather lack luster greeting that came from the boy on her other side, Ryou. Anzu turned to him, and was taken aback by the somewhat sour expression on his face. She knew immediately that something had happened between the two boys, and that Yami was completely unaware of it. She raised her eyes brows to her white headed friend in silent question, but he only shook his head and jerked it in Yami's direction. She turned back to the other boy, who seemed to be basking in exuberance.
"So, what's up Yami?" she asked carefully," Why so happy?"
He smiled and stared at her with his beautiful crimson eyes," There's something important I want to tell you."
Anzu's heart rate quickened ever so slightly, and she suddenly felt her stomach grow warm, and kind of queasy (it really does happen!). She was slowly loosing the battle against her blush. Can it be? Can it be that, well? Anzu shot a glance in Ryou's direction, how rolled his eyes and turned away.
"Yea?" she asked, hoping that her voice didn't sound to eager, hoping that she sounded calm and collected and that her voice didn't reveal the flurry of emotion occurring on the inside," What is it?"
"Well…" he held her captive in his gaze," You know that Marik mentioned how his sister, Isis, was coming to town?"
Anzu's insides came to a grinding halt. The warm, queasy feeling suddenly turned dead cold, and she felt like a stone had settled in her gut. She hoped that her face didn't turn as pale as she felt, or that it didn't reveal her disappointment.
"Yes…" she said carefully," I do recall him mentioning something like that…"
"Yes, well, she got in last night," he said, almost bouncing up and down in his seat like a small child," and she called the shop. She invited Yugi and I to come and see the newest editions to her exhibit on the ancient pharaohs- she has things that have never been outside of Egypt until now. Isis said that Yugi and I could each bring a guest. Yugi's bringing Grandpa, and I was wondering if you wanted to come as my guest Anzu. Would you? I know how interested you are in it too, and I thought you'd appreciate it the most out of the group."
Anzu was speechless. So…in a sense, he's asking me out on a date to go see the woman that he admires… must the world be so cruel?
"I'm really excited about seeing Isis again, and also kind of nervous, you know? It's just been so long! So, what do you say, will you come Anzu?"
He flashed that irresistible smile again, but instead of making her legs weak, Anzu just felt disappointment. And total confusion.
"Um, yea," she stuttered," Yea, th- that'd be great. Um, I gotta go turn my homework in!"
She rose quickly out of her desk with her homework in hand and moved down the aisle the best she could. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Ryou stand up, and then sit down again, knowing there was nothing again that he could do. Anzu could feel strangled tears of disbelief start to glaze her eyes as she neared the basket where she could turn in her homework. Don't worry, don't be dumb she repeated to herself It's just a stupid crush, nothing to do about it…
Suddenly, she felt herself flying forward as a solid object bumped into her and consequently caused her to trip. An arm snaked out to catch her, and she was violently jolted by the sudden stop. She turned to look at what, or rather, who had bumped into her, accidentally causing her to fall forward. The return of blue did nothing to improve her state.
"I'm sorry," Seto Kaiba mumbled as he righted the girl that he had bumped into. Anzu stared up at him in open shock. Did he just…apologize to me… for bumping into me…?
"No, no," she breathed, just trying to think of some kind of response," It was my fault, I should have been looking where I was going."
Without another word, he bent down, scooped up the papers she had dropped, and placed them in the basket. He then moved to his seat, the only other empty one in the classroom, which happened to be behind her own. The entire class had fallen silent when the two had collided, and now stared from her to him, wondering what in the world had happened. Almost on cue, everyone burst out into whispers, still staring between the two.
He apologized to me… she thought with numb realization as she too made her way back to her desk. As she sat down, she noticed that Yami was glaring angrily and Kaiba, and Ryou was looking down at his textbook, pretending to study, all the while smiling contentedly. He glanced up at her, looked at Yami, and then back to her, as if saying, Looks like someone's jealous.
Anzu shrugged, and then mouthed- He's not the only one.
Ryou laughed quietly, and nodded. Isis Ishtar. He returned his focus to the textbook as the teacher entered the room and class began.
"Good Morning Class!" the teacher said, a smile gracing his wrinkled face.
"Good Morning Mr. Rupp," the class replied in heavily accented English. There were only three students in the entire class who could speak English totally of almost fluently, Kaiba, Anzu and Ryou. Ryou and Anzu had both lived in the UK for a period of time, and Anzu had also lived in New York, while Kaiba was forced to use it in running his company.
"Today," Mr. Rupp said after collecting the homework from the basket," We'll be working on finding symbols in excerpts of classic novels. You see, many authors have use, and still use, symbols in their writings to represent something other than what the object visually represents. For example, think of a fire. To most, it's and object used to bring light, warm, and cook food. It can also be associated with rescue, and, on the flip side, burning. However, symbolically, fire can mean power, strength, determination, passion, purification, and also destruction. Now, often symbols will have their own meanings that vary from person to person and outlook to outlook. For today's assignment, you'll be a few passages, and a list of certain symbols. It will be your job to find the symbols, and determine the meaning of it. This assignment not only teaches about symbolism, but also about perspective. Just because another person sees a symbol one way doesn't mean the person who sees it a different way is wrong. No, if I could have two volunteers to help me pass these passages out…" The man's eyes scanned the classroom before settling on two.
"Mr. Motou, Mr. Kaiba, would you please assist me?"
"I thought you wanted volunteers. Doesn't that mean we don't have to do it?" Kaiba challenged, looking at Mr. Rupp in a bored manner.
"Not in this classroom Mr. Kaiba. You see, the word "volunteer" is like a symbol, it varies by perspective. In my perspective, a volunteer is someone whom I chose to do a task and does so without complaining. If they do complain, they will receive lower marks for the day for interfering with the learning process. Mr. Kaiba, consider your participation grade for today to be a zero. Now, would you please pass these out?"
Kaiba grumbled under his breath and stood up from his desk, following Yami up to where Mr. Rupp was holding the papers. Yami smirked as the teacher glared at Kaiba. After passing out the assignment to the rest of the class, Kaiba plunked the papers on Anzu's desk and then sat down at his own. Anzu looked down to the passage, and the list of symbols they were supposed to define. She scanned the list, and every once and a while, a symbol pooped out at her. Water/Ocean/Rain. Anzu smirked, wondering at the irony. She had no doubts that she would easily be able to answer that symbol. Anzu spared one glance out the window, to where the clouds were still pouring out their innards, then turned back to her paper and began to work.
"Very good," Mr. Rupp praised Ryou as he sat down," A very interesting viewpoint on the symbolism behind jewelry. The next symbol on the list is water. Anyone care to input, or will I have to choose someone?"
At the same moment, both Anzu and Kaiba raised their hands.
"Hm, I didn't expect anyone to give in so easily. Miss Mazaki, how about you give us your thoughts on water."
Anzu stood up, and read off of her paper," Well, in the passage, the main characters are surrounded by water on all sides, on an island. It is shown in the passage, that almost every time the characters do something that would be considered by society's standards as morally incorrect, it rains, and afterwards, they realize their wrongs. In that sense, water symbolically represents purity, and the forgiveness of their wrong doings. The water also represents enlightenment and clarity, for it teaches them what is right and wrong and leads them back down the path of civilized nature. Water is uplifting, optimistic in a way."
Mr. Rupp nodded," Good, good. Now, Mr. Kaiba, what do you have to say on the matter?"
Kaiba stood up as Anzu sat down, on his face a scowl was fixed.
"What Mazaki says is wrong, fo-"
"Mr. Kaiba, before you get any further into this, I would like to remind you that part of this exercise is to realize that not everyone thinks the same, and that that doesn't make them wrong. I believe I already discussed that. Now, you may continue."
Kaiba's scowl, if it were possible, deepened as he started again," In the passage, water represents unbounded desolation. The characters are trapped on an island, surrounded on all sides by seemingly endless water. The water separates them from society and the rest of mankind – it isolates them. It also represents natural destruction – the storms that plague the island all come by way of the ocean, causing damage both mentally and physically to the characters. The water acts as a divider between the two different worlds. That's why Mazaki is completely wrong in saying that "water is uplifting and optimistic". That's rubbish."
Anzu's anger flared, and she shot up. She turned around to face Kaiba, fists clenched," Now look who's resorted to name calling," she hissed," Look, I respect your opinion. Why can't you respect mine?"
Kaiba rolled his eyes, but didn't answer. He didn't have to; Anzu knew what he would have said. He thinks I'm not worthy of him! she thought, her eyes narrowing. Ryou reached up and placed an arm on her shoulder, but she brushed it off.
"Kaiba, I think that we're all allowed to have different views. We're all allowed to think different things. Why can't you accept that?"
"You think I can't?" he challenged, raising an eyebrow.
"Well," she said, searching for words," If you can, you sure aren't doing much to prove it to me and the rest of the class now."
"I don't have to prove anything to you or the rest of the world," Kaiba replied, cold and intense," Oh, and by he way, in proper English, it would be 'the rest of the class and I'."
"Yea," she muttered," The only thing you could prove would be how much of a haughty jerk you are."
"What did you say Mazaki?"
She stared him down, not faltering under his silent attack.
"You heard what I said."
"W-"
"Do I need to send the both of you to the Principal again?"
Mr. Rupp's crackling voice shot through their argument like a bullet. Almost in sync, the two turned to the teacher, who was looking dangerously furious, and then sat back down in their desks without a word.
"That's what I thought," Mr. Rupp muttered," Now, if we could continue our lesson…"
Neither Kaiba nor Anzu said another word the entire class period.
Lunchtime. It was the one time of day that Kaiba hated the most, only because it was a complete waste of time. To make things worse, the rain had stopped, instead the clouds hovered overhead like a thick nuisance. All around him, people swarmed, moved, laughed and ate, all together in groups with their friends. He himself sat alone, his back rested on the thick trunk of a magnolia tree that grew off to the side of the courtyard. Seto liked it there – the only people who bothered him were the occasional idiotic fangirls (AN: That'd be me…) who tried to tempt him with food and overdone smiles. He got rid of them quickly.
"Kaiba-kun?"
Seto looked up from his laptop and stared coldly into the eager face of a female underclassman. He saw that she was exactly like all of the others: preppy, perky, and dumb.
"What do you want?"
If the girl was taken aback by his rudeness, she didn't show it. She held out a white box tied with a red ribbon.
"I noticed that you didn't eat anything at lunch, so I brought you a lunch," she smiled, and her high ponytail bobbed cheerfully. Kaiba was disgusted, but kept his face a blank slate. The younger girl set down the box in front of him, as if making an offering to a god.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Hanasaki Tomoya. I'm a sophomore this year."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow. She was bolder than the other flunkies who had bothered him in the past. He could also sense a catty and calculating mind behind her pretty, clueless façade. That boldness however, wouldn't get her very far.
"If I don't eat anything at lunch any other, what makes you think that I'd want lunch now?"
Hanasaki blinked. For a split second, her mask slipped, but she quickly recovered. But for Kaiba, it was just enough.
"Now, if you're quite done trying to attract me, would you please go? I have no patience for people like you."
This time she wasn't taken off guard. She fixed a pout on her heavily glossed lips," I don't understand what you're talking about. I just wanted to do a good deed."
"Oh, I'm sure," he mumbled, rolling his eyes," If you really want to do a good deed, you can start by leaving me alone."
"Bu-"
Hanasaki was cut off by the sound of loud rap music, the song "Yeah." Kaiba scowled and dug through his briefcase while the song continued to play louder and louder. Finally, he pulled out a sleek, metallic blue cell phone, which was flashing and vibrating loudly.
"Take that, rewind it back, Usher's got the beat ta make yur booty go-"
Kaiba scowled," Crap. How many times have I told Mokuba not to mess with my phone?" he muttered to himself as the younger girl stared on, confusedly. He flipped up the cover and answered.
"Kaiba, what do you want?"
"And a good day to you too, love." a sultry voice said from the other end.
"Isis, I'm sorry," he replied," But you know that I'm at school! Oh, and Mokuba put this ridiculous ring tone on my phone, so when it rang-"
"Are you busy tonight?" she asked, interrupting his tirade. The girl that still stood in front of Kaiba remained unnoticed, along with her gift of food.
"I might be."
The Egyptian woman laughed on the other end," Of course, you always are aren't you? Well, you will be busy tonight, for sure."
"Says who?" he replied challengingly, raising an eyebrow.
"Says your girlfriend. Tonight is the special preview of my new Egyptian exhibit at the museum. You're going to be coming."
Kaiba sighed," Isis, dear, you know that I'm not exactly fond of, well, Egypt."
"But you're fond of me."
"So you think," he said coldly. She knew though, he was teasing.
"Anyway Isis, I'd love to come, but I won't be able to. I have a very important meeting this evening with the President of the Industrial Building Corporation about the new HQ building in San Francisco."
"You had a meeting this evening. But I asked Mokuba, and he took the liberty of canceling it. Mr. Tana was very understanding."
Kaiba's eye twitched slightly, the annoyed look slowly filling back onto his face. He really hated Ancient Egypt. That was the one thing about Isis that he wasn't fond of – she was constantly trying to convince him that he was the reincarnation of an ancient Priest, that he was destined to do this and that and blah, blah blah…
"I can't believe you," he replied.
"Well, believe it. Be at the museum at 7 o'clock sharp. I'll be in the back room, just come back there when you get there."
"What do I have to do?"
"Nothing but smile and look pretty."
"Ha ha, very funny. Now tell me, why am I doing this?"
"Because, me dear, you love me very much."
"Right. Look, Isis, I really need to go, lunch is almost over."
"Alright, I'll see you tonight. Love you darling." she purred.
Kaiba hesitated," I'll see you tonight."
She hung up, and, with a sigh, he closed his phone and tossed it back in his bag. Hanasaki had left sometime during the conversation, but had left the food there. Tentatively, he opened the box, and tried some of the food. It tasted horrible.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Anzu slumped down in her chair and sighed, raking her hand through her hair in weary agitation. Chocolate brown eyes stared at her in concern.
"I think so Ryou. Kaiba just makes me so mad that I could s-"
"No, I meant about the whole Isis thing."
She felt herself sink lower in her chair. It was their lunch break, and instead of sitting with the others, Anzu and Ryou pretended that they'd had a project they needed to work on. Currently, they were sitting in the computer room, which, with the exception of them, was devoid of all life. Anzu stared past the blank monitor at her side out of the window, which looked down onto the lunch courtyard. From where she sat, she could see the picnic bench they normally sat at. It was busy and animated: Jou and Honda having eating competitions, Yugi talking games with Duke, and Marik and Shizuka talking in what Anzu guessed would be hushed tones. Yami was picking at his food, only looking up occasionally to provide some half hearted insight on whatever Duke and Yugi were talking about.
"He must miss you," Ryou said seriously. Anzu rolled her eyes and turned back to her friend.
"Oh, yes. Of course he misses me. He has no one else who will listen to him gush about the beautiful vixen that is Isis Ishtar. She's so beautiful, so smart, so amazing! She knows all about Ancient Egypt, all about his past, all about the God cards. And, and, she has a Millenium Item! S-"
"You really like him, don't you?"
Anzu looked down at her thumbs, which were anxiously twiddling in her lap. She sat up a little.
"I- I don't know. I mean, I think I do, but now with Isis and everything, I'm just no match. I just don't think that I have a chance, that I'll ever have a chance. I know I'm being dumb, I really am, it's just…"
"Anzu. Look at me."
Anzu instead looked out of the window. Her eyes wandered to the corner of the courtyard. She saw Kaiba underneath the magnolia tree, talking on his cell phone. He said something else, and then closed his phone, a cross look on his face.
"Anzu, stop looking at Kaiba and look at me!"
He grabbed her chin and turned her face towards his.
"Listen. Anzu, you're smart, funny, pretty, kind hearted, and the best dancer I know. You're considerate of everyone else around you, and you should know that no one, especially Isis Ishtar, could hold a candle to you. You're a jewel, a real jewel, and that if Yami doesn't realize that, then he's an idiot, and not good enough for you. You should never, ever let what he thinks affect how you feel about yourself. You're an amazing person Anzu."
Anzu smiled, looking into his eyes, which shone with surprising truth.
"You," she replied," Are my best friend. You're supposed to say that, even if it isn't true."
"Well, yea," he said. Anzu's smile fell, and he laughed," But in this case, everything is true."
Anzu leaned back in her chair, the feet rising an inch or so off of the ground. Ryou handed her a roll off of his lunch tray, which she gladly accepted. She turned back to look outside of the window, her leg brushing her still slightly wet umbrella. Can't forget that she reminded herself mentally Or I risk another run in with Kaiba…
"Anzu Mazaki!" Ryou said sharply.
"What? What?" she spun back around to face him," What'd I do?"
He rolled his eyes," Don't you remember the first rule in Kindergarten? All four on the floor."
Anzu stared at him, confused, until he pointed to the leg of her chair; the front two legs still a few inches above the ground from where she was leaning back.
"Ha ha, very funny Sir." she replied, purposely leaning further backwards so that the legs would raise up further.
"Fine then," he joked," but don't come crying to me when you fall backwards and bust your head open."
"Actually, that would be rather amusing."
Anzu jumped back at the unexpected voice. Her chair tipped backwards precariously, and she tried to lean forward in a panic. However, it did no good. The chair flipped backwards, taking her with it. Anzu hit the ground with a thud, her long legs going everywhere. The chair had flipped onto her, pining her onto the cold, dirty linoleum.
"Very impressive Mazaki," the voice called out again, unmistakably cold," And I thought dancers were supposed to be graceful."
Ryou got out of his chair and squatted down in front of her.
"Told ya so," he hissed, before breaking out into gut wrenching laughter. Anzu blushed fiercely as she slowly sat up. The chair slid off of her and landed on the floor with a metallic thud. She brushed off her front, then straightened her skirt, which had, in the process of the flip, come dangerously close to giving the boys in the room and interesting view. She sat on the ground, her legs tucked underneath her, trying to muster what dignity she might have had left. Carefully, she turned to look at Seto Kaiba, who was leaning in the open door way of the computer room, his briefcase on the ground next to him. He didn't say anything as she met his gaze, but slowly, she saw a smile tug at the corners of his lips. A smile. His body shook slightly, and he looked for a moment as if he were about to turn away and burst out in laughter, as Ryou already had. Anzu stared at him, completely mystified. Her mouth slowly widened and her eyebrows rose in an expression of confused shock. This caused his lips to curve slightly, until it was almost reminiscent of a normal smile. Anzu was floored.
"You had better shut that," Kaiba said, gesturing to her mouth," or you might catch an insect. Unless of course, you're trying to resemble a frog."
"Why you-"
She shot up, but it was too fast. Her knees wobbled shakily before giving out and bringing her again to the floor. Behind her, she heard Ryou break out into a new fit of laughter. Kaiba crossed the room in three long strides, and stuck out his hand, palm up. Anzu blinked, and then looked up at him questioningly.
"It's a hand Mazaki. You take it and I help you up."
Slowly, unsurely, she put her hand into his. His fingers closed around her hand and, with unexpected strength, he roughly pulled her up to her feet. She stumbled slightly, and he caught her by the shoulders.
"And then I make fun of you."
"Wh-"
She suddenly realized that Ryou had fallen silent. She spun around to look at him. Ryou was staring at the both of them strangely. She was about to ask him about it, when suddenly, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch period. Anzu's class was all the way on the other side of the school, she should have left minutes ago in order to get there in time. She lunged towards her bag and grabbed her books. She sped past a still shocked Ryou and brushed past Kaiba. Kaiba turned as she rushed out, and watched her calmly as she ran down the hall and dodged the students who were coming in form lunch. He watched as she ran into her group of friends, bumped into Yami, muttered something and kept going, leaving Yami to stare confusedly in her direction. Ryou shouldered his bag and leisurely strolled past him, bumping into him slightly as he passed through the door way and disappeared into the crowd. Kaiba sent a sneer in his direction, and then turned back to where they had been sitting before he had come in. There a baby blue umbrella, still slightly wet, was lying against the ground next to the toppled over chair.
"Looks like Mazaki forgot her umbrella again…"
Anzu sighed, stretching contentedly as she walked down the stairs from the dance loft and down onto the ground floor. She passed by one of the rooms, where a small class was being instructed in what looked to Anzu like the tango. Just as she was about to push out of the door, she felt her bag begin to vibrate. She sighed and unzipped her dance bag some, and grabbed her cell phone.
"Hi, this is Anzu!"
"Hey Anzu, it's me. Where are you? I called the house, and Mai told me you were at dance."
"Um, hey Yami. Yea, Mai was right, I'm just leaving dance now."
"Oh, alright. I just wanted to remind you about tonight. Seven, at the museum."
Anzu internally sighed. She hadn't forgotten.
"That's right. Thank Yami."
"No problem. I really want you to come. And by the way, it's formal. I'm really not sure what I should wear. If it's going to be nice, should I wear the belt buckles and pass up on the leather? Should I wear a suit? I was thinking about maybe wearing what I wore to the Battle City Finals. Is that too casual?"
Anzu rolled her eyes," You know Yami, I think that'll be just fine. Anyway, I've got to go, otherwise I'm going to be late."
"Right, don't want that. Ok, thanks! Bye Anzu!"
Anzu clicked her phone off and angrily shoved it back into her bag. She pushed out of the dance studio and onto the streets. It was raining, just as it had been that morning, in big drops. Instinctively, she reached for her bag. Thank goodness I remembered my umbrella…
However, as she searched her bag, she found only dance shoes, her school uniform, dance clothes, and a few text books. Nothing that felt like an umbrella. She swung her bag around her to the front of her body so that she could see the bag and all of its contents. Nothing.
"I can't believe this, this can't be possible!" she muttered. She could go back in, and wait for the rain to let up, but it was already five and she had to get home and change. She set her bag down on the ground and got down on her knees, searching through it while getting thoroughly soaked. Anzu was sifting through the contents a third time when she felt a darker shadow descend upon her.
"Don't bother, you won't find it in there." Kaiba said in a non chalant manner. He was casually holding the umbrella over her and her bag while, like the day before, allowing himself to get wet. Anzu looked up at him from her position on the sidewalk. Today he was wearing a crimson red dress shirt, collar undone and part of the way open, and black pants. He was carrying a light blue umbrella that looked startlingly familiar to her. She opened her mouth, but he stopped her before she could utter a syllable.
"You forgot your umbrella again."
Anzu closed her bag and stood up, taking care not to break eye contact with him.
"What are you doing here? Are you following me or something?"
Kaiba rolled his eyes," Don't flatter yourself Mazaki. I wouldn't even be here right now if you hadn't been in such a rush and forgotten your umbrella."
"Oh, of course! You're such a kind hearted soul that you had to come and give me my umbrella. Right!" she said, holding back the years worth of obscenities that she had compiled against him.
"I can leave right now."
"Please, do me a favor and go!"
Kaiba shrugged, and began to walk away from her, still holding her umbrella. As the umbrella moved away, Anzu felt the feeling of raindrops on her skin again. She ran towards him, until she was back under the dry safety of the umbrella.
"Hey! Give me back my umbrella!"
Anzu reached up and tugged on it, and to her surprise, he let go. She pulled with such force, that she stumbled backwards and the umbrella snapped closed, leaving them both to stand in the rain. Quickly, she opened her umbrella and raised it over her head. Anzu walked at a brisk pace just to meet the strides of the long legged C.E.O., who was still walking in the direction of her apartment complex.
"Thank you," she said meekly.
The two walked in almost complete silence for minutes, the sound of the rain partially filling in the awkward gap of silence.
"Tears don't suit you." Kaiba said suddenly, his voice monotone.
Anzu almost stopped, but instead lifted the umbrella slightly so that she could see him more clearly.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he said, flipping a wet strand of hair out of his eye," Tears don't suit you. Like from this morning."
This time she did stop, and so did he.
"I wasn't crying," Anzu said, her voice a little too defensive for her own taste.
"Right, so you're eyes normally resembles water fountains. Look, I'm not stupid, you were crying this morning."
Anzu started walking again, silently wishing that Kaiba would just drop off of the face of the earth. The rain was starting to come down harder, but Kaiba seemed not to notice. He was staring at her intently.
"Okay, okay, so I was crying. What's it to you? My life is none of your business."
"No one else seemed to care, except maybe Ryou. What about Yami?"
Anzu visibly stiffened at the sound of his name came from Kaiba's lips. She said nothing.
"Just like I thought," he went on to say.
"Why are you suddenly so talkative?" Anzu hissed.
"Why aren't you? Did you and your lover have a fight?"
Anzu whacked him with her umbrella," He's not my lover!" she yelled. The few people other than them who walked the streets turned and stared at the girl. Anzu blushed, and lowered the umbrella until it almost covered her face. "You're just trying to get me in trouble, aren't you? For your information, Yami and I did not have a fight. In fact, he's completely oblivious! And it's all because of Miss Ishtar," she finished in a snide mumble.
Kaiba raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He knew that now he'd gotten her started, he wouldn't have to say another word.
"Now that Isis has come back to town, all Yami can do is fawn over her. All the time, it's Isis this and Isis that – come on, he hasn't even seen her in months! Like this afternoon, he called me to ask me what he should wear tonight for the new exhibit opening. Hr wants to look good for her I'm sure! It's so obvious he's head over heels for her, and what does he do? Yami goes and invites me to the same stupid exhibit party! I mean, come on, how dumb! To ask the girl who likes you to go and visit the girl you like! It drives me insane, and he has no idea. And now, I promised I'd go, so I've got to get home, get ready, and then get all the way to the museum, when I'd rather just go home and die or something! But no, I get to stanf around and listen to Yami talk about Isis all night. She makes me so mad!"
Anzu took a deep breath, calming herself. She was pretty sure that she'd gotten it all out, although she wondered if Kaiba could hear her over the sound of the pounding rain. Wait, Kaiba could hear…?
"Crap!" she yelled. Kaiba just smirked. Anzu threw her umbrella down and turned to him, fists clenched, fury shaking her body.
"You-you made me-"
"I didn't make you do anything Mazaki. You told me all this yourself." he replied coldly.
"Gah! You know, I'm sick of this! Just leave me alone!"
"Good enough for me," Kaiba said," We're at your complex anyway. Although I really shouldn't have bothered bringing you the umbrella, seeing as you didn't use it for half of the trip. You're soaked."
Anzu snorted in anger and frustration," Look who's talking."
Anzu turned away from him and began towards the stairs.
"Do you need a ride?" Kaiba asked.
She had no idea what he was talking about, so she just pretended not to hear him. Quickly, she climbed the stairs, only wanting to get into some dry clothes.
Kaiba watched as she trotted up the stairs, muttering things under her breath. He quirked an eyebrow, and then turned and walked in the rain, picking up Anzu's umbrella where she had abandoned it. He really didn't think Isis would mind if he arrived a little early. She might mind him being wet.
Hello again! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you love me, you'll review. Waves hand in front of computer screen like a Jedi You will review. You will review. Anyway, thanks to my great reviewers!
Chapter One:
The Cougar: Short and sweet. Thanks!
Aherocansaveus: Yea, tu est tres pathetique. Not really.
Suzieq2005- Thanks! It's great to have an original reviewer come back, sorry I was out for so long…
BradyBunch4529- Yes, that's definitely the best part about their interactions, the arguing. Thank you so much. Seto and Anzu are really flexible, and it's nice to kind of break away from the cliché…at least I hope I am. Thanks again.
MischiefMagnet- Thanks, I'm glad I could provide some amusement. And thanks, I want my French to be functional more than anything - I'm definitely going to have to be understandable to people of all different sobrieties. Lol.
Tamis- Eh, merci! I sometimes forget about things like that.
Chapter Two:
Dreamer of Dragons: What a poo head teachers can be. And biased. But that's another conversation! Anyway, I really love A Dream Deferred, and while I don't remember it word for word, I like to reference to it every once in a while. Thanks, I want it to be scheming…like a soap opera, but maybe without the reincarnations and funky eyebrows…
Suzieq2005- Lol, thanks for reviewing again. Yea, my beta wanted me to have Isis be the hot ex-flame, but I thought she'd be better as kind of a nuisance to Kaiba, who happens to also be his girlfriend. Yes, it's very strange to picture, which is why it ain't lasting long…
Mischiefmagnet- Arigato. And yes, it does seem right. I'm glad you're enjoying this, I hope this chapter kept your interest "piqued".
The Cougar- Whoa, déjà vu. Thanks.
ChaosJenny- Great name. Yes, it's like a big…polygonal shape of love, lol. Some will win, some will lose, and some will, well, get wet. I hope it works out!
aherocansaveus- Like I said before, "jerkwad" is a term or endearment. Thanks for your input on this chapter!
LuvinAniManga- Welcome back! I almost cried when I found you'd been booted. Thank you sooo much for reviewing! You're one of my favorite authors, and a lot of your work has helped me get back into writing fanfiction. I'm never logged, so I never review, but I've read most of your stories. I'm going to get better at leaving reviews. I remember when I was looking back at the old Like The Rain and realizing you had reviewed (when you reviewed was before I was a fan, when I realized you had reviewed was after I was waiting every slow day for a new chapter of Beach Bonanza). Wow, thanks. I really like RyouXAnzu as a couple, and if I wasn't already dead set on putting Anzu and Seto together, I would consider writing a fiction with them. Maybe that will come later on. Thanks again! dances in excitement
Alright, that's all! RR