Disclaimer: I don't own Ygo!
"Hey Kaiba?"
Seto sighed and kept his eyes fixed on the opposite wall across the room. "What is it?" The question could have had some edge to it but his voice seemed weary, almost exhausted.
"Are you feeling okay?" She watched as his shoulders straightened and she could feel the annoyance clouding his mind and prepared for a verbal insult.
"I'm fine Mazaki." Anzu bit back a gasp of surprise. She was certain he would have dealt her some immoral tirade. It appeared she was wrong and somehow it didn't please her. Anzu silently studied his profile and frowned when she saw his face clouded with unnecessary stress and dark lines. She knew he had a lot of responsibility between running Kaiba Corp and raising Mokuba, but couldn't he take some time to relax and enjoy life? The realization made her sigh in displeasure. Of course the answer would be a big fat no. In her opinion he grew up too fast, never having a semblance of a normal childhood nor having friends to help him or to be concerned about his well being. All he had was his younger brother, never relying on anyone else or caring for anyone else. It was a thought that saddened her and she realized that she suddenly cared about him. 'Even if he is the biggest jerk on earth.' She added as an afterthought.
"What the hell are you looking at?" Seto had sensed her staring at him for sometime now and it irked him. He wasn't used to being scrutinized at such a close range and it made him twitch in his seat. He had seen the emotions overshadowing her face, changing from worried to sad and finally sympathy. Were these emotions directed at him? If so, then he didn't need it. Especially from the peppy, insane, sandwich feeding harpy. He smirked when he saw her glare at him. It was amusing watching her get riled up. She was the only one who could hold her own against him in a verbal sparring match.
"It's nothing Kaiba." Anzu knew he was just baiting her but she was in no mood for his acerbic behavior. "Are you finished eating?" The irritated look on his face made her smile.
"You mean after you practically forced it down my throat? Yes I'm finished."
"Well you had it coming." She had to smother her giggles. He was acting like a little kid. "If you hadn't been such a baby then I wouldn't have done that."
"Whatever." He grunted. His head was pounding and he could feel the onset of a migraine. Being around Mazaki for so long had its drawbacks. With her constant pestering, her know-it-all attitude and that sickening smile of hers had him going insane. He could feel the vein throbbing in his forehead and he longed for the sanctuary of his bed. Anzu seemed to have noticed his distress and she hesitantly placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Kaiba are you feeling alright?" Her hand was jerked roughly away and she gasped at his sweating face. "Kaiba! What's wrong?!" Her heart was beating frantically in her chest at the thought that something was terribly wrong with him.
"I'm fine!" He barked and deftly rubbed his temples in slow, circular movements. Instead of helping she was making his headache worse with her dumb questions. "I just have a damn headache!" He felt the touch of something warm and soft against his hands and he looked at the only person who could have done this. "What are you doing?"
Anzu didn't answer him, instead she kept her gaze on their hands as she gently pried his away. She shifted her body closer and gently massaged his scalp and forehead. Seto felt his tongue grow numb as he stared at her face. Just what was she thinking? He didn't need her help yet he couldn't keep the moan of pleasure from slipping through the confines of his throat. Her slender digits were doing wonders to him, fingers running through his hair, kneading and soothing those impossibly annoying aches and pains and he closed his eyes relaxing into her touch. He would rebuke himself later but at the moment he would enjoy the massage. At least she was good for something...
Anzu smiled as she watched Kaiba savor the scalp massage she was gifting him. All those times doing it for her workaholic cousin was finally paying off. Though, she never thought she would be giving one to the person who made her life miserable whenever he got the chance. She continued to thread her fingers through his thick, luscious hair marveling at the silkiness of each strand. It was a weird doing him this favor but she couldn't watch someone in pain nor could she not try to help. The fact that he was letting her touch him was very...pleasurable? She shook her head. No that wasn't the best word to describe this feeling. It just made her feel special and she had to admit, those sighs and groans escaping his mouth were quite enjoyable to hear.
A few minutes later, Anzu regretfully stopped touching him and smiled warmly at his thoroughly relaxed face. He looked like an ordinary teenage boy devoid of any worries or obligations. She gasped when his eyes snapped open retaining their usual alertness. Aside from his relaxed posture he looked exactly like he did twenty minutes ago: angry, irritated and ungrateful. She backed away as he straightened, his eyes unreadable.
"I suppose you want a 'thank you'." Anzu suddenly frowned. She wasn't expecting anything from him because she was the one who took the initiative and attempted to help.
"Actually Kaiba, I don't want a 'thank you'" Her response puzzled him and it showed in his facial expression. "I was only repaying you for when you helped me back in Mr Takanori's classroom." The memory still made her blush in embarrassment but she quickly shooed it away.
"I see." Was all he said before they were shrouded in an awkward silence again. Anzu shifted uncomfortable not being used to such an uneasy feeling. Her constant moving around caught Seto's attention and he sighed. "Mazaki stop fidgeting."
"Sorry." She whispered. "But I can't stand silence!" She pounded her thighs to show her frustration and the corners of his lips turned up slightly.
"I take it back." He said amusingly and Anzu tilted her head to the side in confusion. "You really are the baby in your group of losers." Somehow the comment didn't make her angry as it did before. In all honesty she was relieved to hear his snide remarks. It was better than listening to the tired sound in his voice. Which reminded her...
"Kaiba?"
"What?" Anzu bit her lip. She was going to ask him a personal question and she feared the dragon would surface and burn her to a crisp, then again, she was never one to back down nor was she afraid of confrontation. "Well, I was wondering, do you take any time off from work?"
Seto wasn't expecting her to ask something like that and his first thought was to tell her mind her business, yet when he opened his mouth other words came out." Why do you ask?" Anzu was a bit shocked he didn't unleash his acidic temper on her but she was never one to pass up a very fortuitous opportunity.
"You seem stressed out and I know that you go to Kaiba Corp immediately after school is dismissed. Trust me, I know what stress does to a person."
Was she referring to her parents or perhaps herself? He didn't care. "If I appear stressed out, its because I'm stuck in a very annoying situation." His answer didn't convince her one bit.
"We both know that that's not the entire truth." She looked at him and was disappointed when he remained emotionless. "When I was giving you that massage," Her blush was coming back and she fought it off fiercely. "you were beyond stressed. You looked like you were going to collapse from exhaustion any minute." Seto frowned at her inquisitive nature. For once he wished she would mind her own damned business. He didn't need her pity!
"Why so concerned all of a sudden Mazaki? Does it look like I give a damn about your idiotic opinions?"
"Maybe you should care!" The ire in her voice surprised him. "Or at least care about Mokuba's feelings! Do you think he wants to grow up knowing that his brother is working himself to death!"
Seto growled. "Don't drag my brother into this!" Anzu glared at him defiantly.
"I'm just pointing out a fact."
"I don't need you to! You know nothing of our lives and you should be wise not to get involved in things that doesn't concern you!" He half expected her to crumble into a crying mess but was surprised when he found no trace of tears in her angry blue eyes.
"I know your life isn't my business but I grew up with workaholic parents and I know what he is probably going through." Her voice softened and so did her eyes. "Mokuba adores you. You're his hero, his best friend, his everything. He practically worships you and I don't blame him." Seto raised a perfectly smooth brow. "I respect you Kaiba and I know you love Mokuba more than anything in the world and the only thing that makes that kid happy is being able to spend time with you."
Seto was at lost for words. Did Mazaki just compliment him? He wasn't sure and he dared not look into her eyes. That tender look she sported reminded him of his mother. A mother Mokuba never got to know. He really was everything to his brother and vice versa. They supported each other and Mazaki was right. He had been spending more time at work and less time with his brother but he would sooner eat dirt than tell her she was correct in her assumption.
"You make an interesting point." He said, finally looking into her shimmering eyes. "I'll take your words into consideration." He saw a blinding smile bloom on her face and he rolled his eyes.
"Are you telling me that I'm right and you agree with me?"
"I never said anything of the sort." Seto was a bit caught of guard by her sudden change in emotions. Women.
"Well even if you didn't say it, you're welcome." He rolled his eyes again and shook his head annoyed.
"You're crazy." Anzu just smiled at him, happy that he was being a tad bit amiable. Perhaps this was the beginning of a strange new friendship.
A/N: Phew! I'm finished with another chapter of this story. Don't know when I'll update Kissed by the Darkness but hopefully it will be soon. Please review!