Thank you all for your attention, and especially to A Splendid Guest, Deck Divination, PoisonIvy1998, and Yami E, for the feedback on the first two chapters :) Here we go again with round three.


"So does someone wanna fill me in on what happened earlier?" Honda asked the other teenagers sitting together in the living room of the Mutou residence. Yugi had been so stunned by the occurrence that no one had dared bring it up yet. Instead, they had pulled out a few board games from the shop's storage room to occupy themselves with, although no one seemed to be terribly involved in playing them.

"Well, uh, I guess," Jounouchi mumbled, "I was standin' in the wrong place or somethin' when those two guys dueled, and now the millennium puzzle belongs to Kaiba. And who knows what he's gonna do with it?" Jou, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, crossed his arms and brooded.

"Jou, it isn't your fault." Yugi comforted, though he himself was looking just short of distressed. "No one saw this coming. I could never blame you for this." Jou looked over at his small friend, who seemed to be forcing his smile.

"Thanks, Yug'. I still feel rotten for letting it happen, though. And what can we even do about it?"

"Grandpa? Do you know how I might be able to get the puzzle back?"

"I know very little about the situation, Yugi. If I were to guess, I would suggest dueling Kaiba again. I wish I could give you a better answer." Sugoroku placed a hand to his chin in thought. "Come to think of it, don't we know someone who's a bit of an expert on the subject?"

"Yes, Grandpa. The Ishtars. I did already try to make a call to Ishizu earlier, but nobody answered." Yugi replied dejectedly.

"I'm confused about something," Anzu pitched in. "Yugi, what happens to the pharaoh if the puzzle isn't yours anymore?" she questioned.

"I wish I knew. I haven't been able to speak with him since I lost the duel. I hope nothing bad happened to him." I really hope Kaiba doesn't let anything bad happen to the puzzle, either.

"Hey, Yug'. I'll bet the guy's just fine. I mean, what was he doin' for a good few thousand years before you solved the puzzle anyway? Maybe nothin' happened to him at all. Maybe he's just hangin' out in the puzzle like he was before you two met."

"Yeah, maybe…" Yugi tried to feel hopeful, but was a far cry from convinced. He recalled the few words his friend had said to him before the start of his solo duel against Kaiba.

"…I am confident that you can win without me. And if you still have doubts, my friend, well… what is the worst that may happen if you cannot defeat him? Kaiba will let it go to his head, but he will leave satisfied, no harm done."

No harm done, huh? Yugi thought. Pharaoh… I wish I could still hear you, and know that you're alright.

Lost in his speculations, he failed to noticed the telephone ringing until Sugoroku was holding the cordless device out in front of his grandson.

"Oh, sorry." He pressed the green button and held it to his ear.

"Yugi, I understand you have called me? What is it that you need?"

"Ishizu! Thanks for getting back to me tonight." He put the call to speakerphone before setting it on the low table in front of himself and his friends. "I have… uh, a bit of a problem. Well, sort of a really big problem, actually. It depends on what Kaiba decides to do, I guess, but…" Yugi rambled anxiously. "I was hoping you might be able to help?"

"Please calm down, Yugi. Take a breath and explain your problem slowly."

Yugi let out a deep sigh. "Sorry, Ishizu. Okay. Kaiba and I have recently played Duel Monsters…" Yugi explained the problem to the Egyptian, who listened patiently until he had finished.

"I see. This is a grave problem, indeed. You say you are completely cut off from the pharaoh?"

"Yes. I haven't been able to contact or even so much as feel his presence since the duel ended. It felt like something was wrong right away, actually."

"Listen carefully, Yugi. You must reunite with the pharaoh."

"I know. If I don't… well, anything could happen, right?"

"I will not deceive you. If you do not get the puzzle back into your own hands, it is possible we may lose the pharaoh."

"Lose him? How?"

"As you said, it all depends on how Kaiba decides to handle his end of this situation. If he chooses to be reckless and trade or destroy the item, you may not be able to get it back. He must be reasoned with before that is allowed to happen. Our king's destiny is just beginning to unfold after millennia of waiting for the precise moment. If you do not embrace this opportunity to help him, it may be thousands of years before another chance presents itself. And in that time, it is fully possible - probable, even - that another shall come along attempting to tamper with the pharaoh's goals."

"What does that mean?" Yugi broke in.

"With the pharaoh potentially out of the picture, anybody will be free to act as they wish without opposition. And that may be leading our world in a very dangerous direction. Do you understand me, Yugi?"

"I think so…" He confirmed.

"Let me put it frankly. Had this happened several months ago and nothing was done to reverse it, who would have had the power to stop my brother's dark side?"

"I don't know." Yugi said with solemn understanding. "So how am I supposed to regain ownership of the puzzle, Ishizu?"

"You must defeat Kaiba in a game, presumably Duel Monsters. I do not know all of the rules of the millennium items; especially the puzzle. But I do know that if you want the item intending to harness its powers once again, which is the only way for the pharaoh to fulfill his destiny, you must win it from its current owner. Perhaps I myself ought to be the one to reason with Kaiba about this."

"Why's that?"

"In my past experiences, I have found ways to be particularly persuasive to him. You could say I have a way with people. I understand what drives him and I just may be able to convince him to accept a challenge from you in the near future."

"That makes sense."

"I ought to do this as soon as possible, lest something unwanted occur."

"Sure. Ah, but Ishizu? Before you go…"

"Yes?"

"Do you think, if you're planning on talking to Kaiba, that you could, um-"

"Yes, Yugi. I will find out what I can about the pharaoh's whereabouts. If I am able to, I will even attempt to communicate with him."

"I don't know how to thank you, Ishizu."

"There is no need. You and your friends have already assisted me in more ways than I could ever repay. Consider this a contribution to a portion of my debt to you. I will speak with you again as soon as I find any new information."

"I'll keep myself available."

"Good day, Yugi." Yugi said goodbye and ended the call.


"Seto?" The boy peered over his laptop at the man standing in his bedroom doorway. "You're home later than I thought you'd be." He tried not to let disappointment seep into his tone. "What's up?"

"A situation arose at headquarters." Mokuba's eyebrows rose, but Kaiba waved his hand. "It's taken care of now. Nothing you need to worry about."

"So what happened at Yugi's?"

"That's what I came in here to ask you."

"What do you mean?" Mokuba asked apprehensively, hoping he wasn't in trouble for how rudely he'd behaved.

"What started the argument that had our driver calling me at the office to address the situation? You were supposed to be on your way home for your lessons. You had no reason to stop anywhere on the way."

"Well, I…" The raven-haired boy started, fumbling for a way to explain himself, "I was in the limo on the way home, and we passed by the Kame Game shop, and I saw Yugi and his grandpa putting up this sign outside… It was advertising autographs from the Duel Monsters champion."

"And?" Seto sat down on the edge of his little brother's bed. "Mokuba, The Mutou's run a business. They have every right to utilize their assets. If they have to advertise autographs from a wanna-be celebrity in order to make a few sales, who are you to speak against that?"

"But that's the problem, Seto! Don't you get it? Everyone's calling Yugi the champion these days! Doesn't that bother you? It isn't true!"

"Yugi is the King of Games."

"Then that's what their stupid sign should say."

"Is that what this is all about? You started a fight over an ad?"

"Hey," he put up his hands defensively. "I hadn't stopped there intending to start a fight. I just wanted to talk to them about it, but then Jounouchi was there, and he got defensive, and then I did too, and…" He shrugged and trailed off. "But Seto, you're the champion! He hasn't worked for the right to be called that! You climbed to the very top because you have skills, and he just comes along and takes that away with one game? It isn't fair."

"No, it's not." But that's the way it is, he thought bitterly.

"And you know what really sucks?"

"Hmm?"

"You beat him today."

"Gee, thanks. I won't let it happen again." Mokuba rolled his eyes and nudged his brother with an elbow.

"I wasn't finished, nii-sama. What sucks about it is that no one even saw it, so it won't change a thing." Seto paused to reflect on what had just been said. He believed Mokuba's theory that his victory would make no difference to anyone but those involved. But he wondered to himself if the reason really was because the match hadn't been widely witnessed… or if he really hadn't beaten the King of Games after all.

"Seto?" Mokuba questioned his silent brother. The elder shook his head.

"I'm fine," was all he would say.

"So… what was everyone talking about when I left?"

"Some pointless drabble about Egypt or whatever. I decided I needn't concern myself with it after all, so I went back to work." Kaiba paused, reflecting another moment before deciding not to try explaining to Mokuba about his new trinket. After all, the CEO hadn't even determined yet if he might simply be losing it. He shook off his thoughts and looked into his brother's violet eyes before speaking again.

"Mokuba, this situation will resolve itself. I appreciate you having so much faith in me, but I would prefer it if you didn't try starting fights in the future. Jounouchi is a hothead. I wouldn't put it past him to have actually thrown some punches, and I would truly hate to see you get hurt on my behalf. Try to stay out of trouble, ok, kid?" He ruffled the child's hair and stood. Mokuba smoothed his mane and sheepishly smiled up at his older sibling.

"I'll try, promise." He nodded.

"Good." Kaiba peered at the digital clock in the corner of Mokuba's laptop screen. "It's pretty late. You should find a good place to stop whatever you're working on and call it a night."

"'Kay. I was just waiting up to talk with you anyway." He closed the laptop and slid it into its case.

"I still have a few things to take care of this evening, so I'm going to have to say goodnight."

"Ok, nii-sama." Mokuba crawled off his bed to embrace his brother, who wrapped an arm loosely around the boy's back. "Goodnight."

"Sleep well, little brother." Kaiba placed a hand on his brother's doorknob to show himself out, expecting the nightly "You too, nii-sama. Sweet dreams." that was typical of the boy, but glanced over his shoulder when he heard nothing but silence. Mokuba seemed lost in thought, but his features snapped to life in an instant upon noticing his brother's gaze on him.

"Seto?"

"Hmm."

"You think what happened today might make the Mutou's change their sign?"

Kaiba blinked, then laughed. Shooting the kid a grin, he pulled open the door and stepped into the hallway before adding in a quiet tone, "Yes Mokuba, I should think so."

Mokuba returned the grin.