Me: Okay, a lot of my reviewers have told me to stop beating myself up about my sucky writing. So I'll try to stop. Sorry.

Seto: She's self-conscious.

Me: Am not!

Seto: Look at you! You're constantly apologizing!

Me: I am? Sorry.

Seto: See!

Me: Okay. Sorry.

Seto: Would you just stop?

Me: Uhm... Alright. I need a therapist. If anybody can find me a good head doctor, please, PLEASE, send him or her here!

Seto: I can analyze you.

Me: Really?! You can!? Okay, what's wrong with me?

Seto: You're crazy!

Me: *slow burn*

Seto: Oh, I'm just kidding! *hugs*

Me: Yeah, whatever... Please enjoy the story while I take an aspirin and look for a good shrink. Chow!



CHAPTER SEVEN



"Am I in the presence of the ghost of Christmas yet to come?" said Scrooge.

The spirit answered not, but pointed onward with his hand.

"Ghost of the Future!" he exclaimed, "I fear you more than any other specter I have seen."





A few blocks away from Yugi Motou's Christmas party, standing in the snow, Seto Kaiba shivered. He had not noticed the silver Eclipse pull up to Yugi's house. He also had not noticed Ishuzu slip out of it, and casually step through the front door. Besides, what would he have said if he did?

Suddenly, the cold hit him much harder and he braced himself against the sharp wind, wincing slightly. Trying to find the slightest bit of warmth, he yanked his bathrobe tighter around him, and continued to shiver. As if on cue, every street lamp went out and he was plunged into silvery darkness. It took him a minute to realize that he could still see his hand in front of his face. He then got the feeling that he was being watched. Tentatively and almost unwillingly, he turned to face the third spirit. The "Ghost of Christmas Future".

Who would it be? He smiled to himself slightly, trying to lighten the mood by imagining the spirit that frightened him the most as only one of Pegasus's troublesome goons. He could take one of them down in three seconds flat. He looked up, and it became immediately aware that the third specter was not one to cross.

The "Ghost" was tall, cloaked in black, a large hood covering his face. Seto squinted, trying to see if it was one of those losers who entered the Battle City Tournament. Rare hunters, they had called themselves. But this was not one of those men. The being standing before him did not have to eye incrusted upon his hood, and looked more dead than alive. Seto knew the answer to his question, but he asked anyway,

"Are you the spirit whom I am to meet?"

The "Ghost" said nothing.

Seto nodded, "Alright, then. Why don't we get this over with?"

The "Ghost" pointed to the street, and beckoned Seto to walk forward. The young man obliged, and stepped out of the snow. He saw a faint light on in Yugi Motou's house, and after blinking once, appeared back in the warm living room.

He smiled a little to himself, eager to see what everyone was up to, as he did expect this to be a few years in the future. But, immediately, he noticed that the usual warm atmosphere was clouded and cold with despair.

Yugi stepped into the room, and most of the guests looked up from their punch. Tea crossed the room, and put a hand on Yugi's shoulder. He smiled timidly, and covered her hand with his.

"Is he coming?" Tea's voice was hopeful and pleading

Yugi sighed softly, and answered,

"Yes. He's not feeling too well, though. Lets try to get him in the spirit..."

Mai nodded and stared intently into her glass of punch. Ryou Bakura looked around the room, sadness glittering in his intense, coca-dusted eyes. Tristin swallowed softly and became engrossed in the carpet, shuffling his feet across it silently.

Seto was confused. Where was the celebration? Where was the good cheer? Where was the laughter and fun and friendship? Where... where was Wheeler?

Then it dawned on him and he turned to look at the "Ghost",

"Oh, please. Don't tell me that she-"

He was promptly cut off by a muffled knock on the front door. Yugi shuffled across the room to get it, taking in a deep breath and putting on a smile first.

"Hey, Joey!"

Joey stepped through the door, and forced his lips into a semi-grin,

"Hey, Yuge. What's goin' on?"

Tea stepped into the doorway, and took Joey's hand,

"Oh, Joey-"

"Naw..." Joey put his other hand in the air to show that he was alright, "I'm fine." He crossed the room as the others followed. He turned to face his friends and gave another weak smile,

"I went to see where they're going to bury her, right by a lake. She always loved to feed the ducks there, when she was little," He laughed a little and wiped his nose, "I really think she will love it there. That way, I can visit her everyday. That way... I can always be there for her..." He attempted to smile one last time, but something inside him broke, and instead, his eyes welled with tears.

"Oh Serenity! My poor little sister!" He buried his head in his hands, and Mai threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. Neither of them noticed that they were showing a kind of feeling for each other that they had always been afraid to admit. Everything was just too much for anyone to notice. Tea began to sob, and Yugi held her. Tristin and Ryou smiled blankly and tried to keep their emotions in check.

Seto turned away, and looked at the "Ghost".

"Please. I don't want to see any more. Take me home."

The "Spirit" did not speak but merely pointed.

Seto turned his head in this direction, but was surprised to see another scene, a few more years in the future, of all these same people. Joey was grinning, and Seto felt a part of himself brighten to see the boy smile. Mai was perched on the edge of the blonde boy's chair, and she covered her own lips, hiding a mischievous grin. Tristin threw his head back and laughed. Ryou chuckled, and Tea sighed.

Joey sat up, ready to deliver the punch line, "So then the Rabbi says to the polar bear... 'Oh, yeah?! Says YOU!'" Everyone laughed. Seto felt himself smile again, and he crossed his arms, his spirit lifted by the laughter of others.

Yugi entered the room, and placed a tray of finger sandwiches on the small table. He sat, wedged between Tea and Tristin, and meekly stated,

"Did you all hear... about his death, I mean."

Tea nodded and reached for a sandwich, "Yeah. I always knew his deceitful ways would kill him... I just never expected it to be so soon."

Joey nodded, and shrugged, "Well, what're ya gonna do? I guess this teaches all of us that money doesn't make ya happy!"

Seto snorted. What would he know about wealth and misery? The young billionaire shrugged, his mind answering his own question. He then began to wonder who they were all talking about. Turning to look at the "Ghost of Christmas Future", he asked,

"Who died?"

The "Ghost" continued to stare at the friends, so Seto gave up asking.

Ryou blinked and stared at his tiny sandwich, "I still can't believe he would go to that kind of extreme, though. Suicide is a very frightening subject. He must have been worse off then we all imagined."

Tristin shrugged, "I guess. I wonder how his brother's taking it."

Seto looked up. Who were they talking about?

Tea rolled her eyes, and bit into her sandwich, "Oh, he'll probably end up just like the other one. It's a shame."

Ryou scanned the faces of his friends, "Yes. And for him. To die so young."

Mai nodded, "Twenty-five, I think."

"Who'd he leave his money to?" Joey asked casually, after handing Mai another sandwich.

Tea shrugged, "Definitely not me."

Yugi spoke softly, and smiled, "Not to any of us, if that's what you mean."

"Probably to the brother," Tristin said, "He's sixteen now, right?"

"Something like that."

"Is anyone going to his funeral?" This question came from Tea, who was picking her nails nonchalantly. There was dead silence.

"It was a waste," Ryou finally picked up his tiny sandwich and stared at it, "I mean, we knew him."

"Well, I'm glad we don't have to know him anymore!" Joey laughed, "He's dead, so the world finally doesn't revolve around him!" Everyone chuckled and even sensitive Ryou let a smile light up his face. When the laughter had subsided, Mai looked skeptically over her glass of coke, and asked,

"Has anyone seen Ishuzu in a while?"

Everyone shrugged.

"I wonder how she took it."

Seto frowned. Who was this dead guy that everyone seemed so happy to be rid of? Why would Ishuzu care about him? Seto turned to look at the "Spirit" but was only beckoned forward once again.

He saw Ishuzu, sitting on a couch, her face lit up with a loving smile. Seto blinked. When they had been together, she had smiled like that, just for him. But now... she was smiling at another man, one whom Seto did not recognize. The man was tall, and had soft, coffee-colored hair. He wrapped a protecting arm around the slender Egyptian girl, and whispered into her hair,

"I love you."

"I love you." Her lips formed the words in return. She reached an arm around his broad shoulders and placed her lips to his. Seto finally turned away, wincing, when he saw the diamond ring on her finger.

He hadn't turned back to her, until he felt a chilling wind whip through him. He opened his electric, ocean-blue eyes, and stared at where he was. Tombstones littered the snowy ground. One or two old trees grew among the graves, and there was a thick metal gate keeping him inside. He turned to look at the "Ghost", as the fog lifted from his eyes, and he was able to see.

"Oh, Spirit! I understand! I can be a good person! I was so wrong! Please! I can change!"

The "Spirit" pointed toward a grave, caked in ice, and without love or roses. The grave was open, fresh, and the casket lay inside, covered with snow. A shovel was lying nearby, obviously showing that the gravedigger had left, and would finish the job in the morning. Seto looked back at the "Ghost" and shook his head.

"Please! No..."

The "Specter" continued to point. Seto closed his eyes, and stepped forward, and, standing at the lip of the grave, brushed away the snow. The large, black letters, shimmering with ice, brought him to his knees.

SETO KAIBA

He crawled to the "Ghost" and grabbed the edge of its robes.

"Please! I can change! Just let me change! I promise, I'll be good to people! And stay kind! And be a good man! I don't want to die! Please!"

The "Spirit" said nothing.

Seto grew angry, and stood, "SPEAK!" He shook the "Specter" and finally yanked back its hood.

" He shook the "Specter" and finally yanked back its hood.

Yami Yugi stared back at him, smiling wickedly as lightning struck the great fence behind him. Seto stumbled backward, lost his footing, and tumbled backwards into his own grave. Yami threw his head back and laughed, as Seto continued to fall. Suddenly, the young man was inside his own casket, and began to bang on it harshly.

"NO! PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

He could hear only his own screams, Yami's wild laughter, and the sound of dirt falling on top of his tomb.







Seto: Damn. Scary stuff.

Me: *shrug* Hey, that's Charles Dickens for you. Hey, Setorulez, hope you like the "Ghost of Christmas Future". Also, I almost had him being cremated, but that was just TOO "Scrooged"! Even though this isn't the last chapter, I wanted to thank the reviewers. Lady Shriannan Santrea, Echo Druid, Saki, Earth Star, Ori, setobsessed, Setorulez, and my first few, Daricio, Fantasizer, Katharine, Olivia and Meredith! *Phew!* Did I get everybody?

Seto: You all mean so much to her! *gushes, making fun* SHE'D LIKE TO THANK THE ACADEMY!

Me: *push* Thanks, all, for giving me the drive to finish this chapter.

Thanks to all of you, telling me I don't suck!

Thanks to Echo, for telling me that my story was up there with the Muppet Christmas Carol! YAY!

Thanks to Setorulez, for seeing the "Scrooged"-ness in my story!

Thanks to Cammie, for impersonating the DALAI LLAMA!

Thanks to Katharine, for saying Mrs. Dancy would be proud of my story! (Not bloody likely, but still a nice gesture!)

Thanks to Ori, for sending me those SetoXIshuzu pictures! ^^

Thanks to Saki, Earth Star, setobsessed, Daricio, and Fantasizer for your constructive criticism!

Thanks to Meredith for always listening to the stupid fic over the phone, even though she's got way better things to do!!

Thanks to Kazaa, for providing the music!

And-

Seto: *grabs her to stop her before she goes insane* And thanks to the creators of Yu-Gi-Oh! Without them, wonderful me would cease to exist!

Me: Oh yeah! And thanks to Seto, for shutting me up when it was needed and always being there to glomp!

Seto: *grin*

Me: Until the very last chapter (hopefully, the next one) GOODNIGHT EVERYONE!