Seto wanted to strangle someone as another miserable actor played the part of the Prince Atem, well, more like sung.

What did the fool think? That this is a cast for a musical? Seto broke a pencil in two pieces and luckily, for the actor, Pegasus dismissed the "artist" kindly.

Another name to delete from their list. Seto didn't know how many actors they had watched, somewhere along the way, he had stopped to count.

It was a disaster, nobody was adequate to play the role.

"Our last gone for this flea-infested place," Seto said upset as they left the theatre. "How is it possible that this city is full of inept actors!"

Pegasus sighed at the young man's temper. "Calm down, Kaiba-boy, I feel there is someone out here, right under our noses."

Seto bumped against someone and cursed against him. He didn't even turn around as the stranger said something to him.

Mokuba followed quietly the two men as they continued to talk about the prince. He just hoped they will find him soon, before his brother lost his head.


Yami was walking down the streets of St. Petersburg, looking for the old palace.

He had reached the city earlier but things hadn't gone as he had planned. He hadn't gotten a ticket for Paris at the train station but an old lady had told him to search for a man, Kaiba. She had suggested that this Kaiba could help and that he could find him at the Winter Palace.

Usually Yami wasn't the type to ask help to strangers but he knew that he will never get a travel permit in his situation.

After asking for directions and getting pushed by a rude man, Yami reached the supposed abandoned palace. Every door and window was closed by heavy woods boards.

Kuriboh, his new little friend, was sniffling around but suddenly he entered through a little opening at the bottom of one of the closed entrances.

"Kuriboh!" Yami called him. "Come back!"

He tried to look through the boards but the puppy was out of his view. Yami pulled on the boards and managed to rip some out but he fell backward with a loud crash.

A good way to get unwanted attention.

Yami entered the palace and, after finding Kuriboh, he started to peek around. The hallway was huge and dark, filth and dust were everywhere.

Is there really someone here? Yami thought as he looked around.

"Hello? Anybody home?" he asked aloud but nobody answered.

Yami reached an old dining room and walked to a long table. Kuriboh peeked around but he always stayed near his master. Yami blew off the dust from a plate and picked it up. He could see his own reflection on it but then his face shifted to a little boy that was dancing with a joyful girl. After the vision disappeared, Yami blinked confused and put back the plate on the table.

Kuriboh cried lowly but Yami was too focused on his surroundings to give him attention.

"This place," Yami said mesmerized as he approached an old vase. "It's like a memory of a dream," he continued, touching the surface of the painted object.

The dancing bears, the swans. . . this wasn't the first time he saw the vase but when and where?

Yami raised his head to the broken mirror before him. It was a memory, but he couldn't fully remember it, like always. . . Yami sighed and walked out of the room. He made his way to another staircase and reached an enormous ballroom with large windows on both sides.

A song forgotten a long time ago came to Yami's mind. He tried to remember the words but he recalled only one line. Once upon a December. . . Someone used to sing it to him.

Yami continued distraught to walk down the stairs and passed the portrait of the royal family. A warm sensation spread through his body, it was like an embrace. Yami turned to the ballroom and other images came to his mind. He could almost see people dance, wearing colorful dresses and the music play aloud.

Yami descended the stairs and then he closed his eyes.

Unknown faces were smiling at him, three young men, a little girl and an older couple. The oldest man approached him slowly. He had a kind face and Yami felt safe near him. The man smiled and kissed him gently on his forehead. Yami felt again the same warm sensation, it was something he used to know, like that song.

The man started to walk away and he wanted to stop him but then. . .

"Hey!"

It was all gone. . .

"What are you doing in here?!" a voice shouted again aggressively.

Yami opened his eyes and saw three figures standing on the opposite side of the ballroom. From the tone of the voice, it was clear that he wasn't welcomed. There was a reason if this was a forbidden place.

As he saw a tall man came toward him, Yami started to run down the stairs.

"Hey! Stop, stop!" The stranger called him. "Stop! Hold on a moment!"

Yami was already at the top of the stairs and turned around slowly. The man stopped to run as he saw Yami still there.

"How the heck did you get in he-here?" The stranger ended the question with an astonished face and Yami tilted his head confused. Kuriboh, on the other hand, growled angrily at the man.

Seto couldn't believe what he was seeing. When they had heard strange noises from their room, he didn't expect this.

Is this a dream? No, the boy was there, right before the painting of the royal family and the similarities with the youngest prince were amazing.

Pegasus and Mokuba finally reached Seto as he examined Yami.

"Excuse me, boy-" Pegasus started to say but then he stopped slack-jawed.

Seto smirked. "I guess you see what I see, for once."

Mokuba gasped amazed too but then something else captured his attention. "A puppy!" he exclaimed, picking the dog in his arms. The puppy licked his face and Mokuba giggled.

Yami crossed his arms before him. It was annoying to see the two men observing him with prying eyes and without shame.

"Are you Kaiba?" he asked, staring down at the taller one.

Seto arched an eyebrow at the sudden blunt question. "Perhaps," he answered cryptic, walking up the stairs. "That depends on who's looking for him," he added with a smirk.

The young man didn't look impressed.

"My name is Yami."

Seto started circling around the smaller man like a vulture. At the same level the boy barely reached his chest, he must be only a few inches taller than Mokuba.

"I need travel papers. They say you're the man to see, even though I can't tell you who said that."

He was perfect, to be the actor, of course. He had the same eyes and hair as the prince's, even though he was short compared to the prince's older brothers.

"Will you stop circling around me?"

The young man looked very upset now and Seto chuckled.

"I'm sorry, Yani."

"It's Yami."

"Yami," Seto repeated as a plan started to form in his mind. "You know that you look a lot alike. . ." Seto looked at the painting of the royal family and Yami followed his gaze questioning. "Never mind," he said, dropping, for now, the subject.

Seto needed to have more information about this Yami first. He looked like he wasn't aware of his resemblances with the prince.

"Nice to meet you, Yami-boy," Pegasus greeted him as he joined them with Mokuba.

Yami frowned at the pet name. Was he making fun of him?

"My name is Maximillion Pegasus and this little one playing with your dog is Mokuba-boy."

The kid just waved a hand at Yami as he continued to play with Kuriboh.

"Now, you said something about travel papers?" Seto asked, annoyed at being interrupted.

"Yes. I'd like to go to Paris," Yami admitted reluctantly.

"You'd like to go to Paris?" Mokuba wondered, stopping to play with the puppy.

Seto was barely able to hide his grin. "Now, let me ask you something, Yami. . . There's a last name that goes with that?"

"I don't have a last name, I was found wandering around when I was eight years old," Yami relieved, holding the necklace he worn. "My only clue is Paris."

"Paris?"

This was really their perfect opportunity.

"Yes. So, can you help me or not?" Yami asked.

Seto exchanged a look with his business partner. "Give me the tickets."

Pegasus smirked and took four random papers from his jacket's inner pocket. Actually, the papers were tickets for the circus, they will buy the train tickets soon but first, they needed to convince the boy to follow them.

"Sure would like to. In fact, oddly enough, we're going to Paris ourselves," Seto said, playing his role.

Pegasus passed him the "tickets" and Seto waved them before Yami's eager face. "But I've got four tickets here," he continued, hiding carefully what was written in the papers. "Unfortunately, the fourth one is for him. Atem."

Seto pointed at the painting behind them and Yami turned around. The same portrait of before. Yami never had thought much about the royal family before, it wasn't something you talked about in an orphanage.

Seto and Pegasus grabbed Yami by the shoulders and started to climb the stairs with Mokuba in tow. Yami looked startled but he allowed the two men to lead the way, for now.

"We are going to reunite the Grand Duke Atem with his grandfather, Solomon Muto, and cousin Yugi," Pegasus told him as they climbed the stairs.

"You do resemble him," Seto claimed.

"He has the same red-purple eyes," Pegasus chimed in, slowing his pace. "His father's smile, his mother's chin and oh, look he even has the grandmother's hands!" Pegasus overly acted, taking Yami's hand.

"He's the same age and the same physical type," Seto cut short as they reached a specific portrait.

Yami freed his hand and rolled his eyes at the not so subtle hints. "Are you trying to tell me that I am Atem?"

"What we are trying to say is that we've seen thousands of boys all over the country and no one of them looks as much like the grand duke as you," Seto explained to him like he was a little child. "Just look at the portrait!"

Yami shook his head. No, this was absurd. "You are talking nonsense," he said, starting to walk away.

Seto grimaced. He will not permit the brat to walk away. "Why?" he demanded, stopping the Yami's path. "You don't remember what happened to you."

"No one knows what happened to him," Pegasus reasoned.

"You're looking for family in Paris," Seto continued.

"And his only family is in Paris," Mokuba concluded, still playing with the puppy.

Pegasus put a hand on Yami's shoulder, leading him again toward the portrait. "You ever thought about the possibility?"

The picture was a portrait of two similar kids, they looked almost twins if it weren't for the eyes and the slightly different hairs. Behind the two kids there was an older man that was holding their shoulders.

Despite the headmistress rants about him being spoiled, Yami had never thought he was someone special, like royalty. It was a too distant world compared to his reality.

Yami's silence was getting on Seto's nerves. He didn't have the time for his indecisions. They could take the next train to Paris today if Yami just said yes. He needed to speed things up.

"Well, he is not interested, let's just go, Pegasus," Seto said to his business partner. "After all, the fourth ticket is for the Grand Duke Atem."

Pegasus nodded understanding and followed Seto down the stairs.

"Well, good luck, Yami-boy."

Mokuba petted the puppy one last time and walked away sadly. He didn't understand why his brother was giving up in this way.

"Why didn't you tell him about our plan?" Mokuba asked as he reached the two partners in crime.

"All he wants to do is go to Paris," Seto explained patiently. "Why give away a third of the reward money?"

Mokuba grimaced. He didn't know why but he didn't have a good feeling about this.

"Don't worry Mokuba-boy, everything will go as planned," Pegasus assured him with a wink.

Yami stood alone before the portrait as he pondered what to do.

Kaiba and Pegasus looked a little suspicious but maybe they weren't completely wrong. Some things would make sense and since he had set foot in this place his mind had been confused by imagines and visions. They were too much to be just mere coincidence and then. . .

Yami touched the portrait thoughtfully.

His grandfather and cousin, these two persons could be the only family he had left. Destiny had led him here and Yami will continue to follow it.

Mokuba frowned as his brother started to count.

"Three, two, one-"

"Kaiba!"

Mokuba gasped and Seto smirked at the Yami's predicted call but he didn't stop to walk yet.

"Right in the palm of our hand," Pegasus whispered satisfied.

"Kaiba, wait!"

Seto turned around and made a fake wondered face. "Yes?"

"If I don't remember who I am, then who's to say I'm not a prince or a duke, right?" Yami said in a rational way.

Seto hid his smirk behind his hand. "Go on."

"And If I'm not Atem, Solomon Muto will know right away, so it's just an honest mistake."

Seto nodded pleased. Yami had fallen into their perfect trap.

"But, if you are the prince," Pegasus broke in, "then you'll finally know who you are and have your family back."

Seto turned around and snorted. What a cheese comment.

"He is right," Mokuba agreed cheerfully. "Either way, it gets you to Paris."

Yami nodded and smiled.

He will finally discover his origins.

Kuriboh barked and Yami took him in his arms. "Kuriboh, we are going to Paris."

Seto startled at this. "No, the mutt stays."

"The dog goes," Yami stated, glaring at him.

Seto glared right back. "The dog does not go."

"Please, big brother," Mokuba interjected with the irresistible sad tone that Seto could barely resist. "Let the puppy come."

"I don't see what the problem is," Pegasus added amused.

Yami smiled smugly. "See, Kuriboh comes."

Seto growled.

He was starting to hate that damn boy and his dog.