Quick Note from the Author:

I just want to thank everyone who's been reading my story and for all the wonderful comments. Writing is my passion. It can be a hard, time consuming and trying at times. Life is pretty hectic and I can't post as much as I would like. I mainly write for my self-fulfillment and enjoyment, but it really is very touching when others enjoy what I've created as well. So again, thank you for all the support you've given me and I hope you continue to enjoy Ana and Seto's story.

Chapter 20:

Regret

I've hit the bottom of the idiot charts. Why the frick' did I go to that stupid event, why did I hold her hand, why did I wait around to walk her home? Seto stared at his tablet on his table as he mindlessly chewed on his breakfast. He'd reread the same document five times. Letting out a sigh, he flexed the hand that had held hers. He'd been surprised by his own behavior when he took her hand last night—twice—and he'd been even more surprised to find that he'd been super annoyed when her friend yanked her away from him. Her hands were kind of hard and callused, I wonder if that was from the training she does? His mind wandered to last night, walking in the dark, holding her hand, and making her cry. That thought made him feel like shit.

He slammed his hand on the table, making his plate rattle. "It does not bother me when people cry!"

It bothered him that Ana had. His mind wondered to the joke he told. Ugh, I'm never living that down. His phone rang, and he picked it up.

"What?" He snapped, not caring who was on the other end.

"Wow, Nii-san, what's eating you so early in the morning?" Mokuba asked him.

Seto groaned. "Nothing much, I've just turned into a dolt. Why are you calling?"

Mokuba paused. "Wha? A dolt? Hang on. Are you calling yourself stupid?"

"Yes, now why are you calling?"

"Hang on. I've never heard you call yourself stupid. What's made you say this? Nothing shakes you." Mokuba ignored his other question.

He growled. "Does it matter? Why. Are. You. Calling?"

His brother seemed to realize he'd tested his patience enough. "Well, I've narrowed down the suspects on the list of who want to see you really really really fail and it comes up to about fifty-five."

"Only fifty-five?" Seto smirked.

"The list was a lot longer, but I eliminated people that didn't have the connections and finances to pull this off. That still leaves a lot, though. I could really use some help." Mokuba admitted.

"I can't. I'm overloaded as it is. Have Inu-san help you." Seto flipped through the documents on his tablet.

"Really?"

"Yes, he's proven his worth and I know he's trustworthy."

Mokuba seemed surprised, but excited. "Alright, I'll do that. By the way, how's it going with your fake girlfriend?"

The word fake stung a bit when he heard it. "I'm now a candidate to be her fiancé."

Mokuba whistled on the other end. "From fake boyfriend to fake fiancé in a couple weeks. You move fast, Nii-san. Did the contract you signed with her extend to that much acting?"

"It extended to it. Bye." He hung up and glared at his phone before sighing.

Contract, that's right, it's all because we're under contract. He packed up his stuff and went to school feeling weighed down. When he got there Ana was sitting at her usual seat chatting with her friend. She seemed a lot livelier lately, and she wasn't taking as many naps in-between classes. When she glanced up at him as he entered, he looked away as he passed and took his seat. He quickly pulled out his tablet and got to work. School went by uneventfully until the last bell rang. A shadow fell over his desks and he looked up to find Ana holding her math book. Oh, right tutoring.

Arata walked over, also holding his textbook. Seto sighed and packed up his stuff before leading the way to the library.

"Last night was fun," Arata commented in his annoying chipper voice. "Don't you think so, An-Sakurai-san?"

Seto glanced back at them as they walked, and Ana looked confused.

"I told you to call me Ana," she tried to correct him, but Arata just laughed awkwardly. When she looked up at Seto he quickly adverted his eyes. "By the way, what did you and Kaiba-san talk about last night?"

"Talk about?" Arata sounded confused.

Seto's heart skipped a beat. He glanced back at Arata and glared at him. It was true they'd talked. Arata had told Seto he was glad he came, and Seto had told him to buzz off. He hadn't lied when he told Ana last night that he'd talked with Arata in the park, but they certainly hadn't talked long enough for Ana to backtrack all the way from walking Sanae home.

Arata notice Seto's glare and put on a peppy smile. "Oh, we just talked. Nothing important."

Ana seemed suspicious and looked to Seto, but he quickly faced forward again. When they reached the library, they found a seat at the back where they set up. This time he looked over Arata's papers and Ana's. Oh, Chi-san's making excellent progress. I guess not having to train all the time helps. Knock-off yugi's…

Seto looked up at Arata, who looked embarrassed. "This is awful, it's not just a problem of calculating wrong, you aren't even using the right formulas to begin with."

Arata looked guilty. "O-oh?"

Seto grabbed Arata's math book and flipped to the formula's page and pointed to the first. "Memorize this. Math is mostly memorization. Start here because you suck."

"Way to pull your punches, Amin-chan," Ana mumbled while looking at her paper, disappointed.

Seto's stomach tightened at her look. "Why should I? It's the truth."

Ana rolled her eyes at him. Arata tried to step in. "It's fine An-Sakuari-san, it's the truth. I really stink at math or I wouldn't be here."

Ana sighed and shook her head. "Arata-kun, that's not the point. If you don't say anything back, he'll just keep steam rolling you."

Seto's eye twitched when Ana used his first name, and irritation bubbled in his stomach. "Even if he talks back, that's not going to change the way I talk."

Ana and Seto glared at one another. Arata hopped up and interrupted. "I'm going to go grab some drinks from the vending machine for us."

Ana stood up with him. "I'll help, you won't be able to carry all those by yourself."

Seto watched them leave, feeling annoyed, and turned to glare out the window. What's her problem? Why should I be nice to other people? This is what I get for being a little nice to her just because she's cute. Seto blushed when this thought crossed his mind and calmed himself down. Calm down, this is how it's always been. I act like an ass and she points it out, it's nothing new. So, why does it bother me so much that she stood up for knock-off-yugi? He sat tapping his pencil on the table, waiting. What's taking them so long? The idea of them alone together pissed him off. He stood up and exited the library, then headed for the nearest vending machine. He stopped at the corner and could hear them talking.

"Arata-kun, you're too much of a pushover." Ana's voice carried around the corner.

Seto glared at the tiled floor when he heard her say his name again.

"I'm not that much of a pushover. Anyway, can you stop calling me Arata please?" Arata requested.

Ana's voice filled with irritation. "Funny, are we not friends anymore? Why did you stop calling me Ana? It hurts when you just immediately become so formal."

"Oh, well, no, we're friends, it's just…" Arata panicked.

"Then why?" Ana pressed.

"N-no reason, it just seemed weird to be on a first name basis with a girl who has a boyfriend…" Arata's voice rose as he spoke.

"That's nonsense. There are at least three or four couples in class, and you're on a first name basis with all the girls in those couples. Why am I different? Did Kaiba-san say something to you?"

"No, he didn't." Arata tried to counter. "I mean… It's weird that you're not on a first name basis with Kaiba-san and you're dating him."

"He won't be around for long. We're not dating seriously. Why should I call him by his first name?" Ana replied bluntly.

Seto felt numb. He didn't know what face to make when he heard her say this, or if he was even making one. It's true. He tried to rationalize it, but his feelings didn't agree. He didn't want to hear anymore. He returned to the library, took his seat and stared out the window blankly. Eventually, Ana and Arata came back to the library and Arata set a can of coffee on the desk next to him.

"I didn't know what you liked, but you always look tired." Arata laughed, looking embarrassed.

Seto glanced at the can and didn't say anything.

"It's polite to say thank you when someone gives you something," Ana scolded him as she took her seat.

"Thank you," Seto's said through clenched teeth and Ana's eyebrows went up. Arata didn't seem to notice though and cheerfully sipped on his drink. She stared at him, but he ignored her and went on with the lesson. The rest of the lesson went smoothly. Except for Ana's occasional concerned glances, which irked him. As soon as they both finished up their final problems, Arata finished last, Seto grabbed his bag, got up and headed for the door without looking back or without taking the undrunk coffee.

Seto's irritation grew worse as his mind when back to what Ana said. It's true. I'm not going to be around long. Rein it in, you idiot. Go away idiotic feelings.

"Amin-chan, slow down!" Ana shouted at him. His heart stopped for a moment.

Damn it! Don't stop beating just because she calls out to you. Seto didn't slow his pace. She called out to him again, but he kept ignoring her. Wham! Something connected with the back of his head and sent him stumbling forward. He maintained his balance, but little lights burst into his vision and a pain shot through his head. Looking down, he found Ana's bag next to his feet. Baffled and appalled, he turned around holding his throbbing head. He found Ana standing there, hands still out in front of her from having chucked her bag. She was staring at him open-mouthed, looking just as shocked as him.

"What the frick'!" Seto shouted, finally having regained his bearings.

Ana frowned and her eyes darted away from his gaze. "Y-you wouldn't stop."

"So, you chuck your frickin' bag at me? What's your problem?" Seto growled.

Ana turned back to him and returned his glare. "My problem? What's your problem? You're always an ass, but I feel you've been a royal ass today."

Seto pointed to her bag. "And that justifies you attacking me?"

Ana tensed up and bit her lip. "Well, no…"

"What do you want?" Seto asked.

"Huh?" Ana looked confused.

"What do you want? You ran after me and chucked your bag at me to get my attention, so what the frick' do you want?"

She shifted uncomfortably. "I thought we were going to walk home together."

Seto grinned at her angrily. "Why would we do that?"

She glared at him. "You're the one who was talking about appearances last night. So, wouldn't it look weird if you ditch me right after tutoring?"

Seto snorted and smiled evilly. He reached down, picked up her bag and shoved it into her arms. "But we're not really dating. And there's no one around to uphold appearances for. Walk yourself home."

He regretted it as soon as it came out of his mouth because the hurt look on her face made him feel like shit. Pushing the guilt away, he turned and stormed off, leaving her by herself. When he got to his apartment building and entered, the doorman flinched when they made eye contact. Seto stormed into the elevator and up to his apartment. After he opened the door and slammed it behind him, he chucked his bag against a wall where it made a loud thunk. Panting from his fast walk, he took slow, deep breaths. Ana's hurt look popped into his mind. Crap. Why did she have to say that earlier? This is so annoying! I want to burn that stupid contract.

His phone rang in his bag. Growling, he grabbed his bag and pulled out his phone. The screen was cracked, but he could still make out the I.D. as Hikari. Groaning, he answered the phone. "What?"

There was a pause on the other end before Hikari spoke, "I don't know who stole your cookie, but try not to be a prick for two minutes. I was calling to let you know we need to add some new things that we didn't think of for the prototype and we need you to approve the budget."

"Sure, whatever. Email the request to my secretary and he'll do the rest." Seto rubbed his eyes, feeling tired. A thought crossed his mind before he asked Hikari, "If I said I wanted to break the contract with your sister and date her, do you think she'd go out with me?"

Seto pulled the phone away from his ear as shouting and a stream of curse words came out. He hung up. Hikari tried to call back, but Seto turned off his phone. He stared at the cracked screen. "Maybe I should get insurance on my devices."