Hello everybody! I do realize that this close to the holiday season, it may be difficult to read and review, so don't worry about it if you don't have time! Like I promised, I updated before February, and might even be able to update again. This isn't a very long chapter, but it's relatively intense… for a romantic drama. See the author's notes (coughrantscough) at the end!

A quick note to my two awesome betas, aherocansaveus and Jean-Luc Lover – Um, hi? I just wanted to thank you both for your help and advice! I was really anxious to get this chapter out, so please don't be offended that I didn't use your help this time around. But don't worry (or maybe you should) I will come calling soon! Thanks!

Alright, read, relish, and review!

Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays to all!

RR

Like the Rain, by Revolutionnaire Rouge

Chapter Eleven – Reunion

For the second time that night, Kaiba found himself sprinting down the slick sidewalks of Domino City, desperately searching. The only difference this time was that Anzu was running next to him. A vague sense of surprise at the fact that she could keep pace with him fluttered across the edge of his thoughts, but it was quickly pushed away by the more important matters at hand. They were headed in the direction of the theater – a place that Kaiba had been to only once before. He let his feet guide him to his destination, and hoped that they would go the right way; if not, he imagined Anzu would get him back on track.

The crowd that traversed the sidewalks had grown thicker – people were dressed and ready for a night on the town, and the light haze of rain wasn't going to stop them. Seto batted away a large raindrop that was hanging off an eyelash and obscuring his view.

The two had been running in silence, sparing no breath for unneeded words. Each understood the other, and more importantly understood the goal. They reached a busy intersection, and came to a slower pace then stopped. Kaiba looked wildly around at his surroundings – the garish lights of the city and the rushing activity around him served only to confuse him. Seto looked left, then right, and chose the right. He began to run again.

"Kaiba!" Anzu screamed at him tersely," Theater, left!"

He scowled, and turned back around to face her. She made a gesture to her left, and began to squeeze through a group of people waiting to cross at the intersection. Kaiba rolled his eyes and followed but made no protests – he knew that this was no time to argue with Anzu, especially not about something that she was probably right about anyway. He pushed through the crowd, ignoring the protests, and quickly caught up with her. The crowd thinned away for a few blocks as they moved away from the main road and the big intersections.

Suddenly, he felt his pants pocket begin to vibrate. He stopped, but Anzu didn't notice. Pulling out his buzzing phone, he said a silent prayer and flipped it open.

1 New Txt Msg the digital display read.

His eyes widened as they scanned the message. He read it again, and then reread a few more times. No…no… He took a shuddering breath and looked away from the screen, which now seemed to be cruelly mocking him.

"Anz-" he started, but his words faltered. Seto breathed in slowly, and tried again," Mazaki!"

Anzu stopped, and spun around to face him, her face filled with a kind of wild desperation, an anxiety that seemed to encompass the entire search. Kaiba opened his mouth to speak, but no words issued forth, so instead he just held out his cell phone. She trotted back to him, her animalistic expression melting into something more faithful. She carefully took his cell phone, and scanned the message on the lit screen. Her azure eyes widened.

We have them. An alley off of 3rd and Broad. Come alone, or they will both die.

Her eyes moved from the screen to her face – they were swimming with disbelief and panic.

"No," she hissed," no, this can't – it has to be a hoax or something. A set up, in order to get you or something. I'm sure Mokuba is at the theater, watching a movie or, or-"

Her eyes flicked back and forth, between the phone, his face, and the streets.

"Of course they're trying to get me. But Mokuba-" he tried to choke back a small sob, and Anzu's eyes widened even farther than he had thought anatomically possible. "They have Mokuba. And Rebecca too. Anzu, this message – it was sent from Mokuba's phone."

He stared down at her, trying hard to slow down his brain, which was flying back and forth from thought to thought at a violently dangerous speed. She looked up at him, and he stayed focused on the blue of her eyes. Seto concentrated, only thinking about those two cerulean circles until finally he was able to grasp a more coherent thought from the maddening twists of his consciousness. Here he was, Seto Kaiba, youngest CEO in the business, one of the most powerful men in the world, being brought down to his knees by one little boy, or, more accurately, the absence of one little boy. One of his inner voices – he couldn't tell which one – reprimanded him for such foolishness, but it was drowned out by one driving mantra that had existed in his mind for years, and was now pounding out, pulsating through his entire body as if it were blood through his veins.

Protect Mokuba at all costs.

Kaiba blinked, but didn't look away from Anzu. He'd made up his mind.

"I'm going," he said brusquely," and you are not."

Anzu broke eye contact with him, but he was able to see the flame of fury that had leapt up within them.

"What!" she screamed, her voice carrying through the street and reverberating off the buildings surrounded them. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no words issued forth. Instead, she clenched her fists.

"You read the same message I did Mazaki," Kaiba said, scowling. He really had no time for this," You know what the consequences will be if you come. Now go back to your apartment, and I'll call you when I get Mokuba and Rebecca back."

"The only place I'm going," she said through grit teeth," Is with you, to find Mokuba."

"No. You'll be too big of a risk!"

Anzu put her hands on her hips, and glared up at him," A risk? If anything, I'd be helping you! I'm just a little, defenseless girl. Do you honestly think that whoever it is would try and hurt me or something?"

Kaiba grabbed her arm, and squeezed hard, causing Anzu to let out a sharp hiss of pain.

"Just a little, defenseless girl, huh? Well that didn't stop them last time, now did it Mazaki?" he growled.

He released her arm and she clutched it too her chest, looking up at him with wide eyes. "But-"

"But nothing. Look, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of this myself, without putting you at risk." he rolled his eyes," The last thing I need is another person to have to worry about."

"Ha, like you'd ever worry about me," she said with a snort," You know what? I'm going to go." she turned from him and began to walk away, pausing only once to throw a vicious glare over her shoulder," You had better call me once you find Mokuba and Rebecca, or I will hunt you down."

"Fine," he said, and began to walk in the direction of Broad Avenue.

Anzu quickly rounded the corner, and stopped. She spun and poked her head out around, watching as Kaiba got further and further away. Rolling her eyes, she stepped away from the corner and began to trail him from afar. Kaiba crossed the street, completely ignorant of the honking of car horns and the squeal of tires as he stepped into the flow of traffic. Nonetheless he stepped safely onto the opposite sidewalk – Anzu scampered across the street a moment later. She pressed herself up against the wall the best she could and continued to follow him. Anzu wasn't exactly sure where they were headed, but Kaiba seemed to. He walked stiff backed, his footfalls fast and heavy, showing no sign of hesitation.

Anzu and Kaiba were now alone on the street. The vast emptiness of her surroundings unnerved her – Anzu felt as if at any moment she might be attacked by some unknown, malicious entity. She reasoned that that was partially true, as with each step she and Kaiba were drawing closer to Mokuba and Rebecca's kidnappers.

From the sound of his footsteps Anzu could tell that Kaiba was speeding up, leaving her to wonder if they were nearing their goal. She was unfamiliar with the address, but Kaiba seemed to have no doubts. His tall figure grew smaller and smaller as the distance between them widened and Anzu sped up for fear of losing sight of him. She tried her hardest to keep her steps light. If he found out that she was tailing him, he would be furious. That was the last thing either of them needed.

Kaiba turned the corner, disappearing from sight. Anzu broke into a run, oblivious to the black shadow which now darkened her surroundings. She sharply turned the corner as Kaiba had only a few moments ago. Her eyes widened as her new environment flashed before her. Anzu made an attempt to stop, but the momentum she had built caused her to take a few stumbling steps before she was finally able to come to a halt. The street had opened up into a circular plaza. In the center of the plaza water cascaded down from the open mouth a Blue Eyes White dragon into a low basin. Rain streaked down the dragon's twisted body, catching the light and giving the white marble creature a life like sheen. Above her loomed an enormous obelisk, a dark mass even blacker than the night that framed it. Even in the darkness, her location was unmistakable.

"Kaiba Corp," she breathed, almost afraid to speak the words," Of course. Of course they would bring Kaiba to the place where it would hit the hardest."

Despite the rhythmic flow of the nearby water, the Kaiba Corporation Industrial Plaza was as still and oppressive as the image of Death. Anzu could feel the tension that surrounded the area press in on her, trying to squeeze the very life and breath out of her. Frantically, she spun around, searching amongst the shadows for a single familiar figure.

As her eyes swept the plaza, they caught on a single reflection of light, a single shine in the depth of the dark. The reflection of a distant street light on a intersection sign.

Third… and Broad… the thought heaved forth to the front of her jumbled mind as her eyes repeatedly scanned the signpost. Anzu suddenly realized that that was her destination, her goal, and she mentally screamed to her legs to move. She could feel her legs protest, she felt them firmly planted on the ground below her, not moving, not budging.

And then she heard the voices.

Anzu sprung into action, racing to the alley of the intersection. He's there. They're there, her mind chanted to the rhythm of her pounding feet. She drew nearer, until she could see a faint light coming from the end of an alley. She was there.

Anzu skidded to a halt, and tucked herself quietly behind a thick lamppost, the bulb of which had burned out. She sent up a silent prayer that the light would be too dim for any of Mokuba's kidnappers to see her in her pathetic hiding place.

Five men. Not four, but five. Six, if she counted Kaiba, who stood at the front of the alley, nearest to Anzu. They were all dressed in the same fashion as those who had attacked Mokuba and Anzu a week ago – Anzu had no doubt in her mind that at least four of the five were the same men. Kaiba was breathing heavily, and being held by two of the largest looking, who seemed to be struggling to keep him under control. Kaiba tossed his back in rage, and Anzu was able to catch a glimpse of the unrepressed animal ferocity that burned in his brightly intense sapphire eyes. Anzu shivered despite herself, and wondered at how the two men could even hold him back.

"I'd stop struggling if I were you, Mr. Kaiba," a mockingly silky voice called out from the back of the alley. The dim light brightened, revealing a richly dressed man looming over two chairs upon which Mokuba and Rebecca were chained. The man was young but unattractive, with a narrow face resembling a rat and a mass of blonde hair tied back and thrown over his shoulder. Seto lunged forward and let out a twisted shout of rage, but was stopped by the third man and fourth man. The fifth man walked over and stood next to Mokuba, gun pointed unfalteringly at him. In one fluid motion, the young man drew a well used looking gun from his pocket and directed towards Kaiba's chest.

"My name, Mr. Kaiba, is Axel Frei. German, but my Japanese is flawless, wouldn't you agree?" the man rolled his eyes and chuckled," But never mind that. I have little time for formalities. Now, I suppose you're wondering what I want with you and your family. Well Kaiba, it can't be that hard to imagine, now can it? You have it all – money, fame, a legacy, and most importantly, a reputation."

Anzu gripped the lamppost, her hands tightening around its sides with every word. Fear had settled quite easily into her stomach. She knew the type of man that Frei was, and she knew that he would not give up until he got what he wanted. Or until he was permanently stopped.

"I'll give you anything," Seto spat, staring at Frei loathingly," My money, my success, my company, and of it. Just give me back Mokuba and Rebecca."

Anzu looked more closely at Mokuba and Rebecca. They were both bound and gagged, which would explain why neither Mokuba nor Rebecca had gone into some kind of verbal rage.

Frei's face lit up in amusement, and he chuckled," Your money? Your success?" his mocking grin sunk into a vengeful scowl," I want nothing of it. The only thing I want is to see you motionless in a pool of blood at my feet. What do you think, is that a fitting end for a man such as you, Seto Kaiba? Dying in an alley in front of your only living relative so close to the center of the very empire you built?"

Suddenly, Anzu felt a hard, cold circle press deep into the base of her neck. She needn't guess as to what it was – she knew. She had been caught.

"Ever hear the phrase 'Curiosity Killed the Cat'? I was wondering if you'd show your face again after what you did to me and the others." a rough voice said from behind her. A large hand grabbed her injured arm, and the muzzle of the gun dug even deeper into her skin. The man – Anzu guessed that he was the sixth man – pushed her away from the lamppost and closer to the alley and Seto. Instinct kicked in, and Anzu swung her free arm back, managing to hit the man in the face. As she struggled, she could hear Frei's words.

"I think that this will be the perfect end for you Kaiba. Die in the alley like the dirty beast you are!"

"Hey, Frei!" her captor shouted," Look what I found! Remember this wench?"

Distracted by the sudden interruption, Frei pulled the trigger. It hit its target perfectly.

The man holding Kaiba on the left suddenly let out a moan of pain, and pulled away from Seto to grab his right arm. Anzu saw the shiny red liquid between the man's fingers, and she knew. Frei had aimed for Seto. He had gotten distracted. He missed.

Seto yelled and flung the single man who held onto him a good two yards away, then turned to stare at Anzu and her captor. The man who had captured Anzu gripped her even tighter, and raised the gun to her temple. Seto took a step forward.

"Here to come and rescue your little wench Kaiba?" the man drawled.

And all hell broke lose.

As soon as Frei had pulled the trigger, Seto's mind had gone blank. Everything – the rushing images of his life up to that point, his jumbled emotions and his screaming inner voices – drained away completely, funneled out of his brain like water down a sink drain. Even at that moment it had seemed rather ridiculous, but Seto could see the bullet moving toward him, inching ever so slowly, as if the wiping of all thoughts from his consciousness had managed to slow time too.

He hadn't heard the man who had spoken behind him, but as the bullet – the very harbringer of his demise – drew nearer, he became aware of the secondary presence. Seto didn't need to turn around, not as though he would have had time, to tell who it was.

As suddenly as his mind has blanked it returned, roaring and kicking in all of its spinning visual splendor. One thought was able to make itself heard above the rushing noise of his reloaded mind.

Anzu.

The thought crossed his mind just as the bullet hit – not him, but the lackey to his left. His mind came to a screeching halt as Seto suddenly realized what had happened. Frei had missed, and hit the man next to him instead. The man swore violently and carelessly pulled away from Seto, leaving his arm free. On instinct, Seto let out a roar, and flung the man who still clung to him away, using his new physical freedom as leverage. Although burly, the man flew a good distance before hitting the alley wall with a sickening thud. However, Seto paid no attention to it; instead he spun to face Anzu, who he knew was behind him, and her captor.

His eyes locked with hers, and Seto could see from her blank stare that Anzu's mind was going through what his had just recovered from. It was wiping itself clean. Preparing itself for death. The movement of the man who held her tore Seto's eyes from hers – the man had raised the gun to her temple, a nervous smirk crossing his thick face. Seto stepped forward, his mind whizzing through all of the possible actions he could take.

"Here to come rescue your little wench Kaiba?"

Kaiba launched into a roundhouse kick aimed at the man's head, and at the exact same moment Anzu ducked, as if she had been expecting the maneuver. Her captor's arms flew back, and he let out a grunt before crashing to the ground. Anzu tore free of his loosened grip and, without even looking to Kaiba, ran down the alley. Kaiba turned and followed, his mind calculating. Three of the men had been taken out, his and Anzu's captors, leaving the man who guarded Mokuba and Rebecca, the two others, and Frei himself.

A round of bullets whizzed by his head as Frei and two of the men hurriedly shot at him – however, their aim wasn't good enough now that Seto was moving. With muted amazement, he watched Anzu dart down the alley and take out the man who held the gun over Mokuba and Rebecca with a few sharp blows to the stomach. She fell to her knees and began to untie the two, Frei and the other two men completely oblivious to her presence. The three had one goal, made obvious to Seto as the shoots came closer and closer to his skull.

From the corner of his eye, her saw Anzu throw something towards him and, as if they were connected, he caught it, knowing immediately from its heft what the object was. He pointed the gun at his assailants. The ring of shots stopped, and Frei lowered his gun to sneer.

"Getting bold, aren't you Kaiba? You claim intelligence - surely you must realize that you're outnumbered three to one."

Seto sent a dangerously cold glare," I can count Frei, I'm quite aware of the numbers. But may I remind you that it used to be two to seven?"

The word two seemed to jar Frei's memory, and he turned to where Anzu had just finished freeing Rebecca. Mokuba was on his newly reclaimed cell phone, barking an order to whoever was on the other line in a rather Kaiba-like fashion.

Seto took advantage of his enemy's moment of distraction and sprung forward before either of the others could react. He jammed the muzzle of the gun against Frei's forehead, and pushed him until he was against the back wall of the alley.

"Drop the gun," Seto hissed, his voice as steely as his eyes. The two men flanking Frei spun to point their guns at Kaiba, but no one fired. Frei grinned and let his gun fall to the ground. No one moved to pick it up.

"Time for a short question and answer round," Seto said, completely expressionless.

"I'm game," Frei replied, his cocky grin still plastered on.

"Who are you?"

Frei rolled his eyes," Haven't I already told you Kaiba? I didn't think that you forgot so quickly. My name is Axel Frei. Does that answer your question?"

Kaiba didn't bat an eyelash at the other man's careless reply," Who sent you?"

"No one sent me," Frei said with a shrug," I sent myself."

"What do you want from me?" Kaiba growled, his hand tightening around the gun.

Frei narrowed, and for once his mask of composure slipped to reveal full throttle fury," Nothing your life can't give me. You already took away my life, my parents, and my company. The only thing I want is you dead." he said venomously," Any other questions?"

Suddenly, the wail of sirens echoed through the alley. Kaiba smirked, and glanced to his brother and the others, who were already running towards the Kaiba Corp Security Force.

"Nope. I told you it would be short."

Scowling, Frei turned to his two associates, who were still armed," Drop the guns men," he commanded," It seems Mr. Kaiba here is cowardly enough to call the police."

"You insult me," Kaiba growled," I would never call the police. This is my own security team."

Kaiba took a few steps back, and allowed his team to take over. The three men were swarmed, and taken captive in a matter of seconds. He felt something drop onto his head and stir his already mussed hair. Seto looked up, but was forced to look down again as stinging rain drops bit into his eyes.

It rained.

He turned, and sent one final glance to his team, who had things well under control. Walking to the front of the alley, Seto approached his brother, who had one hand holding up his cell phone and one arm clutching Rebecca close to him. She had both arms wrapped around her waist, and was quietly sobbing, the events of the evening finally grating over her normally cool composure.

"You don't need to call the police Mokuba," Seto said, sternly but softly," Everything is under control."

Mokuba looked up to his older brother with watery eyes, and mumbled a confirmation into the phone, then flipped it shut.

"I know," he whispered," But we'll be in trouble if we don't get the law involved."

The two stared at each other for a moment, understanding and amendments silently communicated. Without a word, Rebecca pulled away from Mokuba, and gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking over to one of the security members to report what had happened.

Seto fell to his knees, not caring as the water soaked his clothing even more, and wrapped Mokuba in an embrace. Mokuba wrapped his arms around his brother and held tightly. He took a few, drawn out shuddering breaths, but no tears escaped his dark eyes as he laid his head on Seto's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he breathed, the rain sliding down his face in tear-like streams," I'm sorry…"

Seto's head stopped spinning. He didn't blank, nor lose thought – it all just stopped. Despite the rain he could see with perfect clarity, he could hear each breath, each footstep. A sense of familiarity settled upon his shoulders. Seto felt suddenly whole, as if a missing piece of him had been restored. He felt his heart beat again. He hadn't even realized that it had stopped.

"Mokuba." Seto said, his voice kind," I love you kiddo."

Mokuba let out a small but relieved laugh, and hugged his brother even tighter.

"I love you too."

"Never do that again, ok?" Seto asked, pulling his brother away slightly so that he could look him in the eyes.

Mokuba rolled his glazed eyes," Of course Nii-san, because I wanted that to happen."

Seto chuckled, and hugged his younger brother again. Mokuba sighed.

"I don't know what's become of you big brother," he said, smiling weakly," Waving guns around, beating people up, getting all soaked in the rain. Well, I guess the last part's not unusual, but still. I thought you always told me that violence isn't the answer."

"And I'm still saying that kiddo." Seto ruffled the younger boy's hair," Well, I suppose you weren't too emotionally traumatized – you're still making sarcastic remarks."

Mokuba laughed," Yea, I guess so. But I never want that to happen again."

"Good," Seto said with a nod," And it won't be happening again, seeing as you're grounded for life now."

"Niiii-saaannnn," Mokuba whined," That's not fair!"

Behind them, Seto could hear the whine of police sirens and the shouts of the new arrivals. Seto stood up, and looked down at his brother.

"I certainly think it is. Now go and comfort your girlfriend – she looks frazzled – and we'll discuss this later."

Mokuba's eyes widened at what seemed to be Seto's approval of Rebecca, and nodded. Seto turned as Mokuba trotted over to Rebecca, and began to order the events in his mind, so that he could testify to the police. Already, some of his team were dragging a furious looking Frei and his all of his lackeys to the police. A mass of people in uniform crowded around the front of the alley, and were constantly moving back and forth. The sounds and the lights and the people were almost overwhelming – it seemed to Seto as if he had walked onto the site of a murder scene, not a kidnapping. Everyone bustled around him busily, each person knowing their task and moving purposely. He scanned the crowd for the head of the police group that had just arrived. Something caught his eye, snagged, and tugged him back. Blue orbs rested on a soaked and bedraggled figure, out of place. On impulse, Seto drew nearer.

"You look wet," he said, his sarcastic edge softened as he caught a glance from her unexpectedly dull blue eyes.

Anzu.

"Look who's talking," she mumbled. Anzu hung her head, her eyes fixated at some invisible mar on the pavement below. Never before had Seto seen her so dejected, so lifeless. For once he wished that she would respond to his banter.

"You should have brought an umbrella."

Anzu clenched her fists and took a shallow, gasping breath. Her entire body shuddered.

"You were right," she whispered, a small sob in her voice," I should have gone back. I should have gone back to the apartment and waited. Like the moron that I am, I totally screwed everything up. You were right; it was risky for me to come. Mokuba and Rebecca could have been killed all becau-"

"Look at me."

Anzu squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head violently, spraying water everywhere as she did so.

"No, I co-"

"Look at me Anzu," Seto commanded, no hesitation in his steely tone. Anzu took another gasping breath, and clenched her fists even tighter, until they were white and shaking. Suddenly, her head flung up, and he was assaulted with a pair of blazing sapphire eyes. Seto saw the raw Anzu Mazaki, a person that he had never even imagined, in those eyes. He could read every emotion – pain, anger, sorrow, confusion, helplessness, guilt, and something, something that he just couldn't place.

"What do you want Seto?" she said, hissing out his name," Do you want to gloat? Say you were right? Go ahead, because yo-"

"Don't be an idiot Anzu."

Anzu's pale face flushed in anger, and she took a step nearer. Seto wondered how close Anzu was to drawing blood from her tight fists.

"You know as well as I do that if you hadn't come, Frei would have shot me. He wouldn't have missed. If you hadn't come, I would be sprawled out dead in a puddle of my own blood at the back of the alley –"Anzu flinched at this description," and Mokuba and Rebecca would be Lord knows where. So stop selling yourself short."

Something in Anzu's eyes flickered and died, leaving her looking simply lost and confused. Her eyes went glassy, and she choked back a sob. She lowered her eyes, and then her head.

"I was scared." she whispered.

Seto blinked, taken aback. He moved a step closer, closing the gap between them. Anzu suddenly buried her face into his shirt. Unclenching her fists she clung to some of the material of his shirt, and pressed up against him. Her body shook with heavy, uncontrollable sobs, and Seto could feel warm tears soak into his shirt. Everything else seemed to slow down, until all Seto could focus on was the two of them. Rain pelted them from above, stung his eyes as he looked up to the heavens for some kind of answer.

"This rainy season…" Anzu said shakily," is making us all crazy, isn't it?"

Seto couldn't help but chuckle slightly. Anzu's sobs grew heavier as she loosed everything that had welled up inside. A foreign emotion intruded onto Seto's thoughts, and demanded that he comfort her. Seto hesitated, but then suddenly gave in.

He wrapped his arms around Anzu. Seto could feel her tense under his sudden touch. He himself felt more than a little awkward, but as her sobs quieted and her breathing calmed, he began to feel more comfortable.

"Yes Anzu. I guess it has."

Wow! How about some craziness? To be honest, I got really annoyed with this chapter about half way through its creation. I realized how far that this chapter and some of the others had strayed from my actual planned plot... the whole 'Mokuba getting caught and kidnapped and Anzu and Kaiba kicking butt' just kind of popped out. I introduced the men in the black suits, and then realized afterwards that I had to deal with them. And let me tell you, that was a pain.

Anyway, December 26th is my birthday. I'm not going to tell you how old I am, but I would love for you all to guess! I'm just kind of curious to see how old you all think that I am… Of course, even if you guys guess right, I won't tell, because I'm actually uptight about internet safety. But I'm curious. Ha ha…

Okay, well, I suppose that's all. I'm done with this big action stuff.

We pardon this interruption. You may now return to your regularly scheduled drama.

RR