It was early morning when Kaiba woke up, despite the desire to sleep in. His head was aching, and getting out of bed, he stumbled into the bathroom to get a glass of water. Everything felt like complete and utter crap, from his eyes down to his feet. Turning on the faucet, he waited for the cold water to come rushing before putting a cup under it, lazily turning it off once it was filled.

"I didn't think I drank that much…"

He swallowed it all; bring moisture back into his system. Taking three more glasses, he placed the glass on the counter and walked back to the bed. Still asleep on the other side of the bed was Anzu, curled up against her pillow. It didn't surprise him that she hadn't woken up, since the sky was still dark and the curtains hadn't been pulled in. They were too distracted the night before to notice, and predicting rude awakening, Kaiba got up to handle it.

The ocean looked amazing in the early hours of the morning. Ships were still out, with their lights flashing in the darkness. Fishermen were out on the waters in the early mornings, trying to get their catch before the crowds in the different markets would come for their best specimens. It was a ritual unlike the one Kaiba did daily, one of the business men returning to their perspective offices every morning before the tourists crowded the streets with cab drivers.

Glancing over to the digital clock, Kaiba couldn't believe that it was only five in the morning. His body clock told him it was time to prepare for work, but not this time. Kaiba Corp had always taken a day off after the corporate birthday party, it was tradition. Everyone would be too busy nursing their hangovers to actually show up in their offices the next day.

Including their CEO, who dumped his body back under the sheets once the windows were covered. He moved back to his original spot next to Anzu, who was still fast asleep. Her hair was all over the place, and it smelled like baby shampoo. It was a calming scent, and watching her from over the girl's shoulders, Kaiba could make out her face in the darkness.

She was so different from him. Whenever he slept, he liked placing a pillow over his head. He didn't want people seeing him in such a compromised position, but Anzu didn't seem to care. Her face was open to the world and he wondered how hard it would be to shake her awake. Would she get mad? Probably. But he didn't care at the moment. He wanted to talk to her, like he should have hours ago.

"Mazaki."

There was no response except for a moan. She didn't even stir too much. Frowning, Kaiba moved closer, shaking her arm harder until the girl's eyes fluttered open. At first she looked very confused, but turning her head slightly, she realized what was going on. Maybe she thought for a second she was at home. That wouldn't have surprised him.

"Kaiba? It's the middle of the night, I'm tired…"

"Actually Mazaki, its five o seven, and the human body only needs three hours of sleep to function. You've had two hours more than necessary."

"Kaiba, shut up."

She grumbled and dug her head deeper into her pillow, closing her eyes again. He knew she was just trying to blow him off, and Kaiba was not having it. The man hated being ignored; he refused to be ignored…

"Mazaki-"

"It's Anzu, stop calling me by my last name like we're strangers…"

"Anzu… just let me talk to you for a few minutes. I'll let you sleep when I'm done, promise."

One eye opened, and turning back to face him, Anzu yawned before setting her head back on her pillow. Her eyes were half lid and her hair was standing all over the place. She still smelled of vodka on her breath, and studying her for a few moments, he wasn't quite sure of what to say. Kaiba had never shared the bed with a woman before, nor had the chance at having one half naked with him.

It only now occurred to him what happened the night before.

"You drank a lot last night. It wasn't my intention on getting you drunk, and I can feel my own hangover nagging me now that I'm awake. I would have taken you home if you weren't so intoxicated, but I didn't want to leave you alone since you could barely make it through the room without tripping over the bed-"

"I'm not helpless, Kaiba. I can handle myself without your help-"

"That's not what I'm saying. And I'd rather be safe than sorry, Anzu. I don't want you getting sick and choking on your own vomit."

"You worry too much."

"You can never worry too much…"

"What are you going to do when I go to New York then? Kaiba, I've been on my own for a good two years now. I am fully capable of taking care of myself. If I need someone's help, even your help, I'll ask for it. But I don't need you worrying over me like you do Mokuba-"

"I worry because I care-"

It just came out before he could take it back. Groaning in frustration, Kaiba turned his back to Anzu and stuck a pillow over his head. His embarrassment was eating at him, and it didn't stop even when his companion moved over to pull it off, a bemused smile across her face. He could feel heat growing on his cheeks… There was no way he'd let her see him now.

"It's perfectly normal to care, you know. If you didn't, I'd be a little concerned."

She was laughing, just quietly enough that Kaiba could barely make her out. Once the blush felt like it had passed over, he uncovered his face and glanced her way. Laying there on her side smiling down at him, for a second he thought it was worth spilling his feelings to Anzu. Maybe telling her how he felt wouldn't be so bad, because she wasn't going to use it against him like other people would. Anzu wasn't that type of person.

"Kaiba, may I ask you a question?"

"Hmmm…?"

"Why don't you let people call you by your first name?"

Now this was interesting to him. No one had ever asked him that, or showed any sort of desire to do such a thing. He was so used to being called by that last name, it became normal to him and quite frankly, Kaiba didn't want any strangers using such informalities with him. Since most people he knew were just strangers, or worked for him, it just became habit.

"It's just what I prefer."

"Interesting."

Her grin wouldn't subside and before he knew it, Anzu had moved over right next to him with her back against the head board of the bed. She must not have even cared that her chest was exposed, the black lace bra teasing his peripheral vision. It looked good against her fair skin, and mind wandering, Kaiba forced his gaze to her face before she had a chance to figure out what he was thinking.

"I'll be leaving soon. My airline tickets just arrived in the mail yesterday and the flight's in two weeks from now. It came sooner than I thought it would. Do you think you could take me to the airport, before I go?"

"Depends on the day and time. I have meetings, some of which I can't avoid getting out of, and-"

"Kaiba, please?"

"… What day is it?"

"A Saturday morning flight to New York city, with layover in Seattle. I need to be at security by six thirty am."

"Don't worry about security, Anzu; I can get you through before then."

Her face was unreadable. He didn't know what she was thinking, but he could only imagine when Anzu began putting her fingers through his thick hair. It felt calming and he didn't feel like fighting against affection that felt so incredibly good.

"I had class the day Jonouchi and Yugi left for California. Didn't ever get a real chance to say goodbye, and I regret it. Sometimes I wish I could have just skipped it, so I could have one more moment with them before they left my life. It's hard saying goodbye to your best friends…"

"Then why do you do it? Why do you get attached to people if you know they'll eventually just leave you?"

"Because that's what strong people do."

Perhaps she was right. He had been avoiding people for ages, for a multitude of reasons Kaiba hadn't rationalized yet in his head. Sometimes they just didn't interest him, but every once in a while he'd meet a person who truly deserved his attention. Yugi was one of those people, and for years he tried pushing him away as the threat of becoming friends began looming over him. It wasn't until the longtime rival left did Kaiba finally realized how much he missed the interaction.

Hell, he even missed Jonouchi and his loud obnoxious mouth. Sure, the other duelist was annoying in his over confidence and wouldn't stop challenging him to duels he'd never win, but after a while, Kaiba couldn't help but respect him. He never gave up, no matter how many times he ended up falling on his face. It even got to the point where making fun of him wasn't amusing anymore, because Jonouchi took it in stride.

"Kaiba…" Sighing, Anzu dropped her hand and got back under the sheets. He watched her as she pulled them over her body, laying on her side once more, her dark eyes facing his own. "I'm tired. Try to get some sleep, you deserve it."

Then she turned around and Kaiba was once more left alone to his thoughts.

The two weeks passed faster than he could have ever imagined. They had continued seeing each other as usual, but Kaiba couldn't put the thoughts of Anzu's eventual departure behind him. It nagged at him and wouldn't leave his thoughts as he went along with her through Domino, a constant reminder of what he'd soon not have.

He tried to make the best of it. Before she left, he did what she had asked some days before and took her to the ballet that came to Domino for spring. It was a tour of the Royal Ballet's performance of The Dying Swan, and he found it interesting enough to watch. The technique and skill required of the dancers was something he could respect, along with the live orchestra that was playing. To his own surprise, Kaiba ended up enjoying it more than he ever thought he would.

More days had passed, and now he was in his sports car, Anzu sitting next to him as he stared out at the road. It was something god awful in the morning, and sipping tea to wake himself up, Kaiba couldn't think of anything to say to her. She looked tired, leaning against the door with her eyes looking out towards Domino Pier. He would have thought she'd be excited, or anxious, but instead, Anzu just looked miserable sitting there.

"Kaiba," she stared, glancing towards his way, "sometimes I wonder if this is really what I want. If I'm doing the right thing by leaving everything I know for some foreign place… in hopes for something near impossible. Am I really doing the right thing? What if I fail?"

He didn't say anything at first. A part of him wanted to tell her that it was futile. That she would fail, miserably, and she was better staying in Domino with him because that was the safe thing to do. Anzu had no friends or family in New York, no one to count on, and she would be completely alone in a country that wasn't always kind to strangers. It made him anxious.

But, Anzu Mazaki was also the most capable woman he had ever known. She was fearless and strong, with a drive that he had never seen in anyone outside of his own rival, who had left himself to chase his own dreams. Kaiba couldn't be selfish now and try to make her stay. If he did, he knew she would always resent him for it.

"…Then you fail. But wouldn't it be better to try and fail than not have tried at all? Strong people don't take safe risks. They reach for the impossible, and I never saw you as a weak person who took the easy route to get what she wanted."

"I'm scared… I won't have any friends to rely on."

"You'll make new ones."

He didn't think his words helped much, but Kaiba said what was required of him. When the airport appeared and they came to her terminal, he parked the car and dutifully helped her with the luggage, carrying it over to security. Once they got there, it wasn't too hard to get through with Kaiba's special status, and getting past the long lines and body scanners, finally the two reached Anzu's flight terminal. Domino City, Japan to Seattle, Washington, connecting flight to New York, New York. There was no turning back.

"I guess this is it…"

Anzu was tearing up. It was just like her to get all emotional, while Kaiba just stood there in front of dozens of people keeping his poker face intact. Setting her bags on the ground, he looked down at her unsure of what to say. They didn't have much time. Soon Anzu would be on her way to the United States and wouldn't be back until September. His only friend would be leaving him to live alone once more.

And it was painful. When the tears started falling from her eyes, he couldn't watch any longer. Kaiba was never good at saying goodbye, and crossing his arms and staring at his feet, he waited for the first call for boarding. The sooner she left, the sooner he wouldn't feel that aching because the inevitable would be over.

"Do you need any money?"

"No, I'm fine. My parents sent me some earlier in case I needed anything."

"What about phone cards?'

"I have them."

"You know Mazaki if anything happens…"

"I know. You worry too much. I'm just… It's hard saying goodbye."

The minutes were ticking by. Before they knew it, Anzu's flight had been called and Kaiba bend over to pick her bag. However, before he could lift the thing off the ground, Anzu looped both of her arms around his neck and kissed him. He could taste the salt on her lips and it took him completely by surprise, the man dropping the bags on the ground as soon as he felt them. They were so soft.

When she finally let go, he was a bit stunned. Too stunned to even realize that people were all around them, some giving sad looks as they saw the drama next to them unfold. His eyes just stared at her as she rubbed the tears off her face, Anzu immediately avoiding his gaze as soon as she had let go. After sniffling a little, she finally grabbed her bags and looked up at him.

"Kaiba, you're a good person. I didn't know that at first, but I know that now. Don't change while I'm gone. I want my friend back."

Then she smiled at him one last time before turning and handing her tickets to the airline staff. Once they checked over it, Anzu stopped for a second, as if she was about to turn around… but she didn't. Instead, she just shook her head and continued walking towards the plane that awaited her, ready for what laid ahead.

The first few weeks were the hardest. Mokuba finally returned, but even the younger sibling didn't completely fill that loneliness that was eating Kaiba away. Sure they got to talking more and the younger Kaiba actually made a habit of having dinner with his older brother, but it wasn't the same. Female company like Anzu's wasn't something that could be replaced easily, especially not with an immature teenage brother who spent hours at a time playing video games and talking about movies Kaiba had never heard of.

When things at the office began building up though, time went by fast. Kaiba was too busy with his work once again to think much about Anzu, outside the occasional stray thought before he went to sleep or when his secretary asked about her. Alone in bed was the only time he allowed himself to get lonely, lying in bed staring at the ceiling as the minutes went by. He wondered how she was doing, but Kaiba knew the answer all ready. Anzu was fine. If she had ever needed his help, all she had to do was call him.

Instead, his phone never received a call from her. It wasn't until two months later did he receive any sort of indication that the girl was still alive. A letter came through the mail, and Ms. Sasaki had placed it aside just for Kaiba to look at. The address was marked New York, New York and the clever secretary knew all about her boss's dilemma. Inside was a ticket to Anzu's performance… a performance that took all of Anzu's will power to get, taking the most senior dancer's role despite only being a college sophomore.

As soon as Kaiba found out the date, he booked a ticket to New York and bought two more tickets so he could see all three nights of the show. Ballet was not his thing, but if it meant seeing Anzu again by chance, even on stage, he'd deal with the theatrics. The office could go without him for one week, and he was long overdue for a vacation anyways.

The night of the show, Kaiba waited near the theater at a diner. It was packed full of people who didn't know who he was and he found some comfort in that. His food, however, was slightly intimidating. For some forsaken reason, he had ordered the infamous gyro, loaded with lamb meat, lettuce, tomato, unions, and cucumber sauce. There was also a huge pile of fries, and sneering slightly at the sight of it all, the foreigner didn't know exactly how to tackle it.

Thankfully there were enough people around to watch. Taking the huge sandwich into his hands, Kaiba bit off a chuck and allowed the juicy meat flavors of the slow cooked lamb to win him over. It tasted so amazingly good, unlike anything back at home he had ever tried. They didn't have meat cooking together in a giant mass of flesh, with a mad cook who just sliced off chucks with a knife before pilling it onto a pita for consumption.

"I can't believe I've never had this before… The Americans were right about their food, for once."

Before he could finish, however, the show was about to start. He abandoned the rest of his food for the theater, leaving a sizable tip behind and crossed the street to join the dressed up masses for an old tradition of classical ballet. It took him a while to get to his seat, waiting outside in line a good half an hour before it was his turn to give his ticket to the box office. Once at his seat and in the darkness of the auditorium, he relaxed and waited for the curtains to open.

She was dressed all in white. Her face sparkled from the glitter, a sense of purity radiating from her body as she stood in pointe, face downcast. Anzu was a ballerina, just like in her portrait at home. Nothing about her looked real, not the stiff tutu she wore that seemed to give her legs length that he hadn't noticed before. eThere was elegance in the way she moved across the stage, and Kaiba couldn't take his eyes off of her.

He wanted to see her, badly. As soon as the show was over, Kaiba left his seat and went for the dressing rooms. They wouldn't keep him from there, if he dropped his name. No one was going to keep him from seeing Anzu, not after going across the country and the pacific to see her again. Not when he waited two months for the chance to see her face again…

Before he could get to her though, she was with another man. A man he knew. His rival of some four years, the one person on earth his skills and intelligence just could never manage to best… Someone he considered gone from his life for good.

Yugi.

It made his heart sink. Feeling a sense of rage flow through his blood, he stopped himself at the doorway of the hall before making his presence known. If Anzu wanted to see that man again, that was her business. He couldn't stop himself from seeing who she wanted, but it didn't stop Kaiba from feeling betrayed. Why hadn't she contacted him? But Anzu cared enough to contact Yugi, because apparently he meant more to her…

"Why did I even fucking bother with this?"

It was a good question he already knew the answer to. Shaking his head, he turned around to leave before the pair could spot him. He didn't want any awkward meetings with the two, especially since Yugi probably didn't know about his relationship with Anzu. That wasn't something he felt like explaining to him. Hell, he could barely explain the situation to himself.

But it didn't stop him from seeing her the next two nights after. And although Yugi was no longer in the audience watching or waiting for Anzu's departure, Kaiba couldn't bring himself to see her. Once more in his miserable life, he felt utterly defeated.