I don't own Yu-gi-oh or Yu-gi-oh GX.

Unseen Suffering

Prologue

"Sir, a young lady has arrived at the front door; she wants to speak with you."

"I told you that I wasn't to be disturbed, did I not? Can't you even follow a simple order?"

"You did, sir, but she insisted I inform you of her name."

"Very well, what is her name then?"

"She told me her name is Astra Mirina."

"She said her name is Astra Mirina? You are absolutely certain?"

"Yes sir, I am."

The butler watched as his employer turned hurriedly to the viewing screen on the wall to the right of his desk, and, using a remote, turned it on. Displayed on the screen was an elegantly decorated sitting room, in which sat a girl in her late teens. She had amber colored hair and bright green eyes; she was dressed in a tight, thigh-length, purple skirt and a white tank top.

"Have her brought here, immediately."

"Right away, sir."

The butler turned and left the room quickly to do as he was bid, glad that he still had his job.

"Miss Mirina, Mr. von Schroeder will see you now. Please follow me."

Astra stood and followed the butler as he led her down the hall and up the stairs. He opened the door and gestured for her to precede him inside, which she did.

As soon as she was inside, a smooth voice, rich with a German accent said, "Astra, it's been a long time."

"It has, hasn't it, Zigfried," she answered, a hint of a German accent coloring her voice.

The two friends embraced each other, but it was as if there was a barrier between them. Zigfried turned to the butler and ordered him to bring tea. Astra watched as the butler hurried off as if demon dogs were pursuing him.

"I see you still have your servants thinking you're about to fire them."

"It makes them much more efficient, I think."

Astra laughed quietly and looked around the office, noticing all of the changes that had occurred. Zigfried gestured for her to take a seat on the couch, and took a seat in the chair next to it.

"So, how have you been Zigfried, truly?"

"Fine," was the curt answer she received.

Astra looked toward her friend with a confused, and almost desperate, expression on her face.

"Fine, is that all you have to say to me? We haven't spoken to one another in almost three years. Surely you have more to tell me than that?"

Zigfried suddenly looked into her eyes; the phony, gracious smile was gone, to be replaced with a somber expression. His brilliant blue-green eyes shone with sadness and an old hurt.

"Maybe if you hadn't decided that our relationship was expendable and stopped speaking to me you would know what's been going on in my life. It isn't my fault that you chose to leave me and what we had behind."

Astra winced at the expression in his eyes; Zigfried rarely showed his true emotions, and it horrified her to know that she had been the one to hurt him this time.

"You're right, of course; I am the one who left, not you. I have no right to demand anything of you or even hope to receive anything."

She stood and seemed ready to leave, but before she did she spoke again.

"I am sorry that I hurt you, Zigfried; it was not a part of my plans, but that was how it happened. I hope you can believe me, if not forgive me. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness and definitely not your friendship."

With that she strode toward the door, intent on leaving before she caused him anymore hurt. Zigfried seldom trusted others or deigned to make friends; she had been privileged with both his trust and his friendship, and then she had taken both and thrown them away. Zigfried jumped up from his seat and seized her arm.

"I do believe you and forgive you as well. I apologize for speaking so harshly before; it is just that you left so suddenly and without any explanation at all. I waited and waited for you to send word, but you never did. I had not expected to ever hear from you again, and then here you are, after I had thought I would never see or hear from you again. I am willing to resume our friendship, though."

He said all of this with a real smile on his face, and Astra turned to him with a bright smile of her own.

"I have missed that smile of yours the most I think; It's never present when you're on TV. Thank you, for this second chance."

As they were sharing a heartfelt hug, there was a knock at the door.

"Sir, I have the tea you requested."

"Then bring it in."

The door opened, and as the servant poured the tea, Astra glanced at Zigfried's desk once more and couldn't believe what she saw there. Next to a picture of Zigfried's younger brother, Leon, was a picture of herself, taken, ironically, the day she had left.

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