This story has been written as part of a writing trade on Tumblr. The idea is given to me by Bellamy Taft. And I sincerely hope that I have done it justice. I have actually ended up breaking it up int two chapters, the second of which I hope to post tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or any of the characters in this story.

Where Hearts Find Peace.

Chapter part 1.

An unfamiliar feeling of disquiet was weighing heavily on Seto Kaiba's heart. It had only been a few days, but since returning from Atem's afterlife he had started to realise that there was something missing in his life.

His victory over the Pharaoh had been played out in his head over and over until he was certain that he would win. Yet he had still fallen short of taking the crown he felt should be his.

But he no longer cared.

For although it had not been the crushing defeat he had hoped he would be inflicting on the Pharaoh, he had learned a truth he had always denied about the origins of Duel Monsters.

After making his intimidating grand entrance, he had been forced to concede to Atem's demands that they duel using diadanks. Apparently, he did not own a duel disk in the afterlife – a fact Seto had overlooked!

Their battle had taken place in its truest form, using large slabs of stone onto which they summoned Ka, using only their willpower and the diadanks on their wrists. It had been exactly the sort of battle Seto had imagined but never truly thought to be a reality.

Of course, It had ended up being another of the Pharaohs' annoying 'lessons' about why he should understand the heart of the cards!

And he did.

But he still found himself conflicted in wanting to deny it.

"A mortal man should not enter the afterlife and not be prepared for it to have a profound effect on him." That had been what Priest Set – his counterpart – had told him.

Meeting his own 'other self' and seeing how content he was to give the role of Pharaoh back to his cousin, had also given him food for thought.

At every given opportunity – which was not often with his schedule – he would find himself reflecting on his life and how he had clawed his way from an orphaned child into the most powerful man in the world.

But what was it all for?

As powerful as he was, he was unable to answer that question. But there was one question in his mind he was able to answer: if he had never met Yugi and the Pharaoh, he would not have been compelled to push himself to achieve such brilliance.

And brilliant he was!

Using the knowledge and the power he had taken from the Plana, he had created technology that unlocked the laws of physics and now made it possible to travel between dimensions and do anything he wanted. could rule the world if he wanted to. But he still could not beat and humiliate the Pharaoh – or Yugi for that matter.

He frowned over his bowl of nasty chocolate flavoured cereal: why on earth did he let Mokuba talk him into eating this muck? It had the same texture as the packaging used to protect the duel disks during transit.

From his seat at the opposite end of the table, Mokuba slurped a mouthful of his choco puffs and looked up at his big brother with a frown. He was worried about him. "Is everything okay Seto? Only..."

Seto looked up and interrupted him before he had chance to go into one of his lectures about 'getting more fresh air and more sleep'. "This stuff is like sugar coated polystyrene."

Mokuba knew that insulting his younger brother's favourite cereal was Seto's way of deflecting what was really troubling him. "But Seto! We need to eat as many boxes of these as we can so I can collect the little Duel Monster toys from inside," Mokuba pouted.

Seto stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "Mokuba! If you want the toys, I will buy you the company that makes them! Anything so that we do not have to eat this stuff!" He allowed the spoonful of now soggy beige slop, to drop off his spoon back into the bowl of light brown milk. He let out a rather frustrated sigh.

"That's always your solution Seto! If we want something, we just buy it, or we take it by force. But sometimes it's fun to collect things in the same way ordinary people do – even if it is just a piece of tat from a cereal box!" He studied the way his older brother snorted dismissively at the suggestion. Had Seto really become so detached from the normal world, that he had forgotten what it was like to get excited about the small, simple things in life? "Seto..." he began, with a slight hesitancy. "What's wrong? Only, you've been so distant since you came back... You won't even tell me what happened while you were there." He looked down at his cereal and stirred the now soggy sludge in his bowl. Suddenly, his appetite had gone. "Did you beat the Pharaoh?"

Seto shrugged. "My plan was to utterly defeat and humiliate him in front of his adoring public. I thought that by beating him, I would satisfy the burning thirst for revenge that I have held since held since the humiliation of Death-T. But instead, it meant nothing to me."

"So, you did beat him?!" Mokuba was concerned. If his brother did beat Atem, why wasn't he happy about it?

"I didn't say that!" Seto snapped, immediately regretting being cruel to the one person that actually loved him. "But he did show me how they duelled back in his time. Did you know that the monsters were Ka that were forcibly removed from their human hosts, by priests wielding the Millennium items?"

Makuba shook his head and looked appalled. "What happened to them?"

"The people or the Ka?" He answered blandly.

"Both."

"Well, I presume the people they came from, either died or were left without any personality. But what was more interesting, is that Pegasus knew all this when he designed Duel Monsters. I know I always dismissed what Yugi said as mumbo jumbo, but deep down, I always knew..."

"I hate to say I told you Yugi was on to something, but..."

"Yes, okay Mokuba. No need to rub salt into an open wound."

"Sorry," said Mokuba, quietly. "But please... what's really worrying you?"

Seto sipped his coffee and swallowed, relishing the strong black liquid as it coated his throat and took away the taste of the cereal.

"I believe everything bad that happened to us growing up, was some sick joke, planned by the Egyptian Gods three millennia ago. Yugi, myself, Bakura, Pegasus, the Ishtars and even the Pharaoh, were all pawns in a game. I honestly believed that if I beat the Pharaoh, I would feel a sense of closure. Unfortunately, I lost. But rather than gloat as I would have done in his position, he showed me his hospitality and offered to teach me some of the other games he grew up with. I won some and he won some, and in the end it no longer mattered which one of us won, because we were... we were enjoying ourselves." He paused for a moment to gauge Mokuba's reaction, which was one of slight disbelief. He continued. "Anyway, rather than feel a sense of closure, I have returned with a feeling that I am missing out on something. It's hard to explain, but it's made me think I should be doing more."

Mokuba was thoughtful for a moment. "Why don't you go and talk to Pegasus?"

"What?!" Seto gasped. He hated Pegasus for what he had done in the past and went out of his way to avoid him whenever he tried to call for one of his 'friendly' chats. Why would he want to talk to that bastard?!

"I know you refuse to speak to him, but... well, I spoke to him and he's truly sorry for what he did. It wasn't his fault. He says his mind was warped by the influence of the Millennium Eye. And I believe him."

Seto grunted derisively. "If I had one thousand Yen for every time someone has used the Millennium Items as an excuse for trying to kill someone, I would be even richer."

"Didn't we try to kill Yugi? And he's forgiven us... I think!"

"That was different."

"In what way? Maybe if you reached out to Pegasus, you might both find a way to overcome your problems. I mean, you're both very similar in many ways."

At that suggestion, Seto banged his fist on the table. "I'm nothing like Pegasus! I'm not a one eyed reclusive freak, who spends his time moping around on his own island, in a castle, wishing he could have his dead woman back!"

Makuba glared at him. "That's a cruel thing to say! And I think you're exactly like him. You hide in your room for days on end, working on mysterious projects, and you're in love with your Blue Eyes White Dragon because she was once a real live woman." When Seto shot in an angry glare, he shrunk back a little.

However, his harsh words had triggered an energy inside Seto, that had not been there a few moments ago. Maybe his words were getting through to his brother.

Seto suddenly tapped the communicator device on his collar. "Isono! Ensure my Blue Eyes jet is fuelled. I'm going out."

:::::::::::

A lonely man stood on the turret of his castle. From where he stood, he could survey his entire kingdom. He had once thought of this place as a beautiful paradise – a sanctuary that would ring with love and laughter. But now it was just a place of self enforced exile.

The dream he and his beloved Cecelia once had of turning the castle into a luxury destination for artists to come and draw upon the inspiration to paint masterpieces under his tutelage, was long faded.

The laughter of the children they might have had would never fill these walls with joy.

Why he stayed here, he would never know. But it was better than being part of the outside world, where children would point and grown-ups would stare at his eye patch, knowing that underneath was a hole where his eye should be. The hole that reminded him of what he had done.

He still wished he could blame Yugi Boy for his situation, or maybe that cursed boy with the Millennium Ring, who actually stole his Millennium Eye. But deep down, he knew that they were as much pawns in the game as he had been.

He sighed, and turned back to his painting. Why did every painting make him think of Cecelia?

Scowling, he picked up the tube of dark brown paint and squeezed it onto the canvas, before taking his brush and angrily scraping harsh brush strokes across the canvas to form a dead, barren landscape.

The sound of a sonic boom in the distance startled him. Shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun, he looked out to the horizon to see a military style jet coming towards his island at great speed. The jet shot overheat, less than one hundred feet above the turret on which he was standing, before banking sharply and turning back towards him.

He instantly recognised the distinctive dragon shape of the jet. "Kaiba Boy..." he sighed. He was always such a drama queen with his flamboyant entrances.

The jet came in lower and lined itself up over the helipad. The sound was deafening and Pegasus had to shield his ears. It then deployed it's vertical thrust, and considering its power landed quite softly, before shutting down to once again restore peace and tranquillity to Pegasus' remote tropical island.

By the time Pegasus made it down to greet him, Seto was already being met by Croquet.

"My dear Kaiba Boy! You always decline my invitations to visit. For what do I owe this pleasure?"

Pegasus might be a recluse, but he still had spies and knew full well that Seto had found the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle, and had nearly caused a catastrophic disaster while trying to resurrect Atem. He also knew that Seto had been away testing some sort of new technology, but as of yet, had not been able to find out what that technology was. But he had his suspicions.

"Cut the smarmy act Pegasus, I didn't come here to play best friends. I'm here on business."

"Wonderful!" Pegasus clapped his hands together. "What business have you in mind?"

Seto scowled. He had not thought about that.

Sensing his discomfort, Pegasus became more serious. Even without the foresight of his Millennium Eye, he could still see that the younger business man was troubled.

"Well, since you are here my dear boy, I encourage you to make yourself at home. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like – I have an excellent wine cellar."

"That won't be necessary." Seto was beginning to wonder why he had even come here.

"Well, at least spare me the honour of having dinner with me? Maybe I will even crack open a bottle of vintage Shiraz. It might get you to open up your heart to me," he teased, gesturing for Seto to follow him inside.

"Don't push your luck," Seto growled, but grudgingly followed anyway.

It suddenly occurred too him that he had never actually been inside Pegasus' home – unless you counted the duel platform and the dungeons!

He was taken into a large room that was decorated like an Edwardian reception room. Above the elaborately carved fireplace, was a large mirror, set in a polished oak frame of intricately carved roses and vines.

As Pegasus poured them each a glass of wine, Seto looked around and noticed that there were paintings of a pretty blonde woman on the other walls. He'd always thought Pegasus a fop, but had heard something about the man marrying at a young age. Seto had never met her though, because she had apparently died not long after the wedding. He had not cared enough to want to know more.

"Ah... I see you are admiring my beautiful Cecelia." His tone was light and he was smiling, but Seto could not miss the underlying sadness.

"So that's her name." Seto remarked coldly and took a sip of his wine.

Pegasus let out a sigh. "Was, her name. Why must the most beautiful, kindhearted, gentle people die so young?"

Seto wanted to ask why someone like her would want to be with someone like Pegasus, but it somehow seemed inappropriate – since when had being offensive ever bothered him? He gulped down the rest of his wine and placed the glass on the table. "I think I should leave. I don't even know why I came here."

Pegasus turned his head and smiled at him. Seto was standing on his blind side, which made the turn of his head far more exaggerated. "But we both know that you aren't going to leave, don't we?"

"Don't try my patience, Pegasus," Seto all but snarled.

Such a bitter young man, thought Pegasus. Just like he had been after Cecelia's death. He did not know why, but for some reason he cared about Seto and did not want him to end up surrounded by everything money could by, trapped in a lonely existence, full of regrets. He wanted to help him and in return, Seto might offer him some hope. "I would be overjoyed if you would join me for dinner? I have fresh sea bass, caught this morning by my own fair hand."

Seto huffed. "Well, in that case, how can I resist," he said sarcastically. But rather than turn and go as his head was telling him, he sat down in one of the comfortable leather armchairs.

Beaming, Pegasus reached forward and refilled Seto's glass.

As he did so, his hair flicked to one side, aided by a slight breeze from the open window, Seto caught sight of the small, pale pink coloured patch that was covering the missing eye. Did he ever regret digging out his own eye, for the Millennium Eye? "Did it hurt?"

Pegasus thought he was still talking about Cecelia. "It still hurts me every single day my dear Seto. I had all the money and wealth a man may possess and yet it was still not enough to save her."

"I meant your eye."

Pegasus gave an ironic snort. "Of course you did. I might have known a man such as you would have a heart of ice cold stone. You have obviously never been in love."

Seto snorted. "Love makes a man weak and easily manipulated. I do not intend to be that foolish."

"What a shame." Pegasus shook his head and poured himself some more wine. "In answer to your question, It was agony. But the agony soon passed and my wish to see her again was granted. Sadly though, it was only for a fleeting moment before the shadows took her away again. But my Millennium Eye gave me foresight, and it made me a promise: it said that if I obtained Yugi Boy's pendant, her soul would be released from the afterlife."

"You do realise that the evil spirit inside that thing was lying to you, right?"

"I know that now," said Pegasus sadly. "But since you do not know what love is, you will never understand how desperate I was. I had two agendas when I held my Duelist Kingdom tournament. One was to seize control of your company so that I could gain access to your holographic technology, and the other was to bring back her soul using the Millennium items. I intended to use your technology to create a solid hologram in her image and place her soul inside it so that we could be together for all eternity."

Seto could only think of one word to describe Pegasus' plan: Insanity. He had been prepared to steal souls and threaten lives, just to bring back a dead woman. But then it dawned on him that he had been prepared to do exactly the same to bring Atem back from the afterlife so that he could duel him.

Over dinner, both men were reflective. The sea bass was indeed good and the wine flowed. As the evening wore on, Seto found himself feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time. Their childhood experiences and upbringings had been very different, but both men understood the desire for power and and money. They had both been driven to take extreme measures in an attempt to get what they wanted and both had seen their plans thwarted by Yugi and the Pharaoh.

Now that Seto seemed a little drunk and more relaxed, Pegasus decided it was time to press for some information on his latest Duel Links technology. If there was a possibility he could create an interactive hologram of Cecelia, then it might be worth making Seto an offer.

"I heard rumours that you have been pushing the limits of your virtual reality system. Would you like to tell me about it?" He smiled, cheekily. "Or is what happened when Yugi Boy stole the show at your last tournament a big secret?"

Seto smirked. "It's no big secret. I was certain that if Yugi almost died, the Pharaoh would come out of hiding to help him defeat Diva, whom I inadvertently managed to piss off when I dug up the Puzzle pieces. Diva also pretended to be a kid called Aigami. He had a magical power that he was frightened he would lose if I brought the Pharaoh out of retirement. Of course, Yugi bringing Atem back and beating him got rid of him and his power, but not before my computers were able to upload all I needed to know in order to recreate the ability to travel through the barriers that separate our world from other worlds."

It was just as Pegasus hoped and more than he had dared dream. Seto had his full attention. "Please, tell me more? What are the possibilities? Are there side effects? Is anyone able to travel there?"

"You seem excited Pegasus?" Seto smirked.

"I am! Just think of the possibilities?" If he could convince Kaiba Boy to take him to see his beloved Cecelia, then maybe he would be able to find a way to bring her back with him, using a new, holographic body.

"I know what you're thinking Pegasus. And the answer is..." He was about to say 'no' but hesitated. So far, he had only been to Atem's afterlife, but there must be an infinite number of afterlives out there, folded within the fabric of the universe. He had explored what was just a pinprick in time and space. "It is a dangerous environment to traverse. Only the dead are supposed to enter the afterlife, and without my technology protecting me, my soul would have been torn from my body."

Pegasus gestured with his hands, dismissively. "Do you think that might bother me? Contrary my dear Kaiba. I am not afraid of death, not if it means I can be with Cecelia."

"But what if you're judged unfit for paradise?" Seto smirked. At that Pegasus' face fell.

"You mean...? You think...?" Pegasus thought about it for a moment and sighed. "Yes, you are probably right. My sins in recent years would probably be enough to send me straight to Hell. But if there is a chance I can find her, then I am prepared to try."

"Very well," Seto nodded. "I have all my equipment at my private laboratory on board my space station. We will go there first thing tomorrow morning."

Pegasus raised his glass in thanks. He could drink to that.

I hope you have enjoyed the first half of this story. Feedback is most welcome.