Hey, people. Yeah that's right, I said HEY!

...ahem. I've been gone for so long I figured some theatrics might be required to get everybody's attention!

So anyway, I'm pretty sure it has been over a year since I've updated this story. I feel a little bit bad. Very bad, actually. I never meant to let it lapse this long, and I wasn't lying when I repeatedly told you guys that I hadn't given up on it. I'm not sure what finally gave me the kick I needed to start up with it again; a combination of factors I suppose. But no matter- hopefully I can at least update regularly, if not at the pace I was able to sustain previously.

A warning to those who have been reading all along: I may have been a little rusty when I wrote this. I did go back and make sure I hadn't created any glaring continuity errors or included any contradictory information, but nevertheless I may have missed something. If you notice that I screwed up somehow, please let me know. And cut me a little slack as far as overall quality is concerned, too. I know it isn't the best chapter in the story by any means, but it still makes me feel hopeful because of the transitional push it provides to the plot. The story is starting to move into its final phase, and that makes me feel excited. With any luck, inspiration will follow.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this stuff. You know that, I know that. We all know that by now, don't we?

The Night Before

Chapter 17: Island of Misfit Toys

xx Domino Lookout, Present Time xx

"So I guess your victory that night was probably pretty unremarkable." Anzu shifted, cringing slightly as she recalled the promise that had been made and all that had taken place after that night. She hated the way the words sounded coming out of her mouth. She felt petulant and fickle, fully realizing that this was not the usual reaction a woman would have in a situation where the man she loved had expressed devotion, even if it was done in a slightly backward way. The words had sounded like nothing less than an attack, with a very dangerous individual on the receiving end.

Seto's brow turned downward. Confusion and anger were perhaps more similar expressions on his visage than on most others, but the tightened fluctuations of his face told Anzu that both emotions were fully in effect at present. His posture straightened noticeably, with squared shoulders and a small but significant increase in height. "Just what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Old sentiments and disavowed insecurities bubbled to the surface of Seto's sensory memory, peeling and stinging like deep wounds that had scabbed precariously. Even he could be taken by surprise. He knew she might have the right to harbor some resentment against him, but he certainly hadn't expected it to relate to this.

Anzu blushed slightly and shrugged, hardly knowing where the bitterness was coming from herself. "Well, you got me to commit myself to you and no other, even though you weren't really sure you wanted me. I guess I must have seemed pretty gullible, huh?"

Seto opened his mouth to protest, blue eyes narrowing in a manner that would ordinarily be considered intimidating. Before he could present his arguments, however, Anzu's voice rang through with conviction. "I mean, what was I? Another piece of technology you didn't want to share with your competitors?" Her eyes swam like the reflection cast by a cloudy sky, giving an impression of uncertainty. "Not that I felt like that just then..." Anzu stood, turning toward the brightening skyline. "That night... it was magical. But..."

He waited, mind bursting with replies. The conversation was beginning to skirt on dangerous territory, but in the back of his mind Seto knew there were a few obscure corners that needed to be illuminated before this situation was resolved.

Anzu exhaled audibly. "Somewhere deep down it felt... wrong. I felt like... a misfit toy. I was so close to being wanted, but the pieces didn't fit quite right. In a way I guess it was like you were shutting me away so that nobody else could see me." A small noise escaped from Anzu, similar to a muffled sob. "I should have felt happy, right? You finally said you wanted me. But the way you said it just increased the pressure, the uncertainty, even more."

Sympathy is probably the appropriate emotion for this moment, Seto thought to himself. All he could feel, however, was the righteous indignation that swelled to the surface at the mere sight of the tears Anzu was crying. Why was he always the one in the wrong? Make no mistake, the Azure-eyed CEO had noticed that he was made out the be the villain in most scenarios, whether he deserved the distinction or not. He frowned deeply.

No, not this time.

He scoffed.

"Oh please."

He watched as Anzu's head snapped to face him, each perfect hair falling into place around her porcelain features. Her eyes froze onto his, giving him an instantaneous reading of how she felt. She was nervous and confused. He felt almost pleased to note that she was suddenly also quite mad.

"Don't try to make this sound like it was all my fault. Why don't you tell me this..." His eyes scanned the ground for a moment before he looked her square, tall frame stiffening to anticipate the volatility of the new ingredient he was about to drop into the already simmering emotional pot.

"You say you were so eager to devote yourself to me? Hn. That being the case, I would be forced to wonder- what was Yugi doing at your apartment that day?"

In a flash, Anzu's eyes narrowed, a gasp jumping from her lungs like an involuntary hiccup. "Don't be stupid! You know perfectly well that his visit was a surprise!" Hot tears erupted unchecked from Anzu's exhausted eyes.

He raised an eyebrow. "And what kind of friend flies halfway around the world for an innocent surprise?"

"Now you're just being ridiculous! You know how close we always were." Anzu saw Seto's right hand twitch slightly, which was never a good sign. Regardless of how insignificant she wanted to make it sound, he was obviously being very serious. "Just what are you accusing me of?"

Seto Kaiba shrugged, regarding the crying girl dispassionately. "You tell me, Anzu. Yugi showed up that day, waiting on your doorstep with a bouquet of fucking friendship flowers, and now you're marrying him. What kind of conclusion should I be expected to draw?"

A long-fingered hand reached out, grabbing Anzu's chin and directing her eyes toward his. She seemed to be staring past him, lost in her vision of the reflecting pool of the past.

She could feel the ghost of Seto's arms around her as he delivered the dance he promised; taste the remaining sweetness from the decadent chocolate dessert he'd succumbed to earlier in the evening, lingering on his lips as he kissed her. Anzu shuddered slightly, feeling a bit overwhelmed as two diverging streams of memory began to merge. As the image of Seto faded,Yugi appeared; looking uncertain with a dozen yellow roses, reaching for her hand, speaking shyly...

Finding that he wanted to hear her explanation above all things, Seto felt his anger gradually dying down. He suppressed the urge to inform Anzu that yellow roses weren't only known to stand for friendship or platonic love; in some cultures they represented infidelity, jealousy, or love that was dying...

Carefully absorbing the tears from her face with his clean linen shirtsleeve, Seto put aside both his guilt and his pride, allowing the pivotal question to take flight. "If you really wanted to be with me like you said, just what was he doing there then, and why are we both here now?"

Anzu shook her head, remembering the day in question. She had not expected Yugi to come see her in New York. His arrival had embarrassed her, in a way, especially considering the house guest she'd been entertaining at the time. Seeing the look on Seto's face as he awaited her answer, she was more unsure than ever as to whether Yugi's visit was the doorway to her salvation, or the stairway to her doom.

At her silence, Seto slowly turned away and spoke in a soft but unforgiving voice. "Maybe instead of making empty accusations or false assumptions about my motives you should think a little harder about who has the right to feel like an unwanted plaything."

Guilt choked at Anzu as she considered his point. Maybe the idea of promising herself to him had scared her, and Yugi had provided an escape that was all too easy? It had never occurred to her that she could be that selfish, but maybe she was wrong. It was unfair, she realized as she studied his profile against the purple and yellow cityscape, to assume that Seto Kaiba didn't feel as deeply as she did. Even after all this time, he could still be such a mystery to her...

The girl in the midnight dress began to claw away at the defenses she had built up over all this time. Her feelings for the two men in her life were an enigma buried deep within her heart, and Anzu found that she was still perplexed by the course of events that had led to this moment. She had never really analyzed her feelings to anything more than a superficial extent; everything still felt like such a blur.

Anzu's thoughts swirled as she tried to focus on those moments in the past which were most important. The beginning of the end, she supposed, had all started with a dance.

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Whew! I actually managed to get things moving again! The story is not exactly close to being done; still plenty of area left to cover. Feels good to be headed somewhere, at least. Don't worry, I haven't finished torturing the characters yet. : )

Reviews are appreciated, as always. I've missed hearing from everyone, so tell me what you think about this chapter. What do you think will happen next? I hope the writing in this wasn't too crummy. Hopefully I'll be back on form sooner rather than later. Thanks to everyone who has provided continued encouragement!