Author Note: Hi all! Thank you so much to all the people who commented and for the new followers and favorites! I really appreciate you all and I'm so excited that you're enjoying the story. I promised that I would try to update on Tuesday's at 8 P.M Central time and I did it! Yay me 😉 I already have the next few chapters rough drafts completed and should be able to keep uploading once a week. Without further a due here's more Ana and Seto. Enjoy!

Chapter 22:

Dinner and Prototype

Why is she wearing that? Why did she have to wear this outfit and what is up with her hair? I've never seen her do anything besides put it up. Why did she braid it? Why the frick' did she dress so cute? Seto was glad that years of dealing with crappy adults had made a poker face second nature. If he was a normal teen, he might have lost all sensibility when Ana opened the door. He hadn't really spoken to her since she tracked him down at lunch and then ate his food right off his chopsticks. It was one of the few times his poker face had slipped in his life. Then again, who wouldn't be embarrassed when a girl like Ana seeks someone out and… He'd almost, almost being the key word here, turned into a pervert after she left and was tempted to stick the chopsticks in his mouth. Instead, he threw them and his lunch away. He already carried her handkerchief around in his pocket and had smelled it once. He refused to cross another line and stick her spit in his mouth. That was just too much.

"Well, come on in. The torture awaits." Ana joked and a quirky smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Stop being so cute! Seto rolled his eyes and entered. He followed her to the dining room where the rest of her family was already waiting. Hikari's annoyance was obvious when he entered. Ana's parents looked between each other nervously while her sister stared out the window, apparently trying to ignore his presence all together. Dai sat at the head of the table and had left a seat open next to him.

"Sit here." Was the old man's rough command.

Seto's eye twitched ever so slightly. Being told to do anything by someone else irked him. He'd already snapped at this old man once. Obeying him now would put a foul taste in his mouth, especially since his "nice guy" act had already been blown out of the water. The room tensed when Seto didn't move toward the invitation. Dai seemed to understand and changed his command to a request.

"Please have a seat." Dai tried again.

Seto paused, but finally took the seat. Dai had Ana sit next to him. Ana's mother got up to bring the food to the table and served the dishes out to them. Apparently, they didn't have servants when it was just a family dinner. No one said much of anything as they passed around the dishes and filled their plates. After they said "Itadakimasu" and started eating, Dai was the first to break the silence.

"So, Kaiba-san, what takes you away from Domino City?" Dai asked.

Seto eyed the old man, wondering why he was asking before he answered, "Work."

When he didn't expand on it, Dai raised an eyebrow. "I see. I suppose it has something to do with why Hikari's been staying so late at school every night."

Seto shot a glare at Hikari, who seemed surprised at his grandfather's words.

"He didn't tell me anything, and I don't know anything concrete about your work. I do know most everything that goes on in this city though." Dai explained before Seto could attack Hikari for breaching confidentiality. "When your work is done do you intend to return to Domino city?"

The corner of Seto's mouth twitched. Did he find out that our relationship is staged? "I can't leave my company forever."

"That's true, a man needs to respect his work." Dai commented before taking a bite of his rice.

I don't know why, but the way he said that pisses me off. No, actually this old man just pisses me off. It took everything he had not to say anything and focus on his food. Ana was uncharacteristically quiet, which bothered him more than the old man's questions. She was acting much different from at school or when she was only around her brother. Did her grandfather and parents scare her that much? Screw living up to expectations. If it's going to make you miserable, then do what you want.

Ana's father spoke up, "Kaiba-san. I heard you built a theme park based on duel monsters. What inspired you to do that?"

Seto stared at Ana's father blankly and couldn't stop himself from answering, "Because it's cool."

He heard Ana snort next to him and he frowned at her, but she'd turned her head away from him, hiding whatever face she was making. Ana's mother noticed and smiled.

"Maybe you could take Ana there on a date?" Her mother grinned at them.

Hikari choked on his food and had to grab a glass of water to get the rice down. The table stared at him as Hikari regained his composure.

"Mother, Kaiba land," he paused and seemed to hate the taste of the name in his mouth, "Isn't a quick trip. Domino city isn't that close."

"Then they could just go over the weekend and stay the night at Kaiba-san's house." She didn't seem the least bit perturbed by the fact she was suggesting two teens spend the night together without supervision.

Hikari's eyes widened and he shot Seto a look as he seemed to grow more panicked. Seto almost flinched when he felt Ana pinch his side. He glanced her way and noticed her mouth was set. She flashed him a quick look as if to say, "Stop this before it gets out of hand." Ah, right. I guess the thought of spending the night at my house makes her ill. He felt disappointed, but kept his poker face set as he faced Ana's mother.

"I'd appreciated it if you didn't go planning other people's dates for them." Seto's tone was hard, even if his words were polite.

Her eyebrows rose for a second, but apparently, she didn't take offense. "True, it would be more meaningful if you thought of something yourself."

Seto was at a loss for words. Much to his surprise, Dai came to his rescue.

"Kiko," Dai interjected, and Ana's mother turned to him. "How is the prep for the council meeting going?"

She seemed annoyed by the forced change of subject, but answered, "It's going fine. I just need to get the last of the paperwork ready."

Thankfully, Dai kept them off the topic of Seto and Ana's future. The rest of dinner they discussed the city, the people, and how Hikari and Aiko where handling their classes. The tense atmosphere seemed to meld away, except Ana didn't take part in the conversation. Is this really how she acts around her family? Now that I think about it, she was quiet at the last dinner I was invited to. Well, except when she spoke with me.

Soon enough the dinner was wrapping up, thankfully without too much awkwardness, and Ana's mother told her to see Seto off to the door. She walked him outside to the gate. It was almost like a weight was removed from her shoulders and she could breathe again.

"I'm never staying at your house," Ana blurted out.

Seto glared at her, annoyed. "Yeah, I got that, you didn't need to clarify."

"See you at school, Amin-chan," She said goodbye and turned away.

"Whatever, Chi-san." He put more emphasis on her nickname than usual and received an annoyed glance before she went back into the house.

"Kaiba-san."

Seto groaned and turned to Hikari, who had somehow snuck up from the opposite way. He remembered what he'd asked him the other day about dating Ana and prepared to be yelled at. "What?"

"The prototypes done." Hikari was strangely calm.

Seto took a moment to process what he said, "What? What are you talking about? You still have 3 weeks left on the schedule—"

"If you don't believe me, then come check it."

Seto hesitated, but nodded. Hikari had been prepared for his answer because a driver pulled up in a slick car and he opened the door for Seto. The ride was awkwardly quiet. When they arrived at the school, Hikari led the way to the lab and unlocked a safe where they kept the stuff they didn't want stolen. He placed the small blue card reader on the table and plugged it in. Seto pulled out his Blue Eyes White Dragon card and placed it on the reader. A tiny holographic Blue Eyes popped up and did a back flip for him. Seto reached his finger forward, and the dragon rubbed its head against his finger. He felt a slight tingle, but nothing concrete.

"You still need to work out any bugs that arise and do the add-ins like toy's and food if you want to truly make it a mini duel monster pet, but the base of what you requested from us is done. What do you think?" Hikari crossed his arms and waited for Seto to give his verdict.

"Good job." Was all Seto could say. "Why did you rush the development? There was still time too—"

"I wouldn't have until you asked me that stupid question last weekend. Our deal is done. You can go back to Domino city now." Hikari's eyes narrowed.

His heart felt like it dropped into his stomach. He wouldn't see Ana anymore. "Right, I'll leave Monday morning."

"Why not tomorrow—"

"I have to cancel my lease, transfer schools again, and finish up my work here." Seto growled and Hikari shut up.

Seto said nothing else as he took the prototype and left. It felt like he was in a daze as he went back to his apartment to take care of things. He barely remembered what he did Sunday, and when Monday morning rolled around, he put on his white coat and headed for the school first thing. The dean seemed happy to see him go when he told him he'd be transferring. After they finished the paperwork, Seto headed for the front of the building and stood outside waiting. There was one last thing he needed to finish up. It felt like something cold was holding his heart, and he felt rather calm. Even when the students gave him odd glances, he didn't really feel their gazes.

"Amin-chan, you know if you wear that to school, they'll punish you for it?" Ana walked up to him and frowned at his coat.

He said nothing as he turned to her. Quietly, he pointed to a corner of the wall that surrounded the school. Ana pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow, but followed him to where they couldn't be seen by other students.

"Amin-chan, what is this about? I don't want to miss class." Ana seemed annoyed with him. Maybe that's a good thing.

"Hikari finished the prototype, and I finished up my work here. This ends our contract," Seto said in a robotic tone.

The shocked look on Ana's face was not what he was expecting, and for a moment he hesitated.

Ana recovered quickly and laughed, but her eyes were narrowed and filled with anger. "I see. Well, have a good trip back. I'll make up something about us breaking up and let my parents know. Bye, Kaiba-san."

He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Before he could think of anything to say Ana turned on her heel and walked around the corner of the wall. It was over. Just like that, he'd never have to come to this city again or see her ever again. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he headed for a limo that was parked a block away from the school. He'd called earlier and told his driver to wait in a secluded place. He got in and they drove out of the city. He didn't look back.