"Bakura, I'm starting to doubt this was a good idea." Joey looked down the dark spiral stairway suspiciously. During the tour, only this part of the castle was unopened to the guests. "What inspired you to dig through Pegasus's privacy anyway?" Tristan followed the group. The group had abandoned the idea of rescuing Mokuba as soon as they found out that Lia had escaped with Kaiba. But now, Bakura seems to have a new not-so-brilliant idea. "Shhh." Bakura hissed as they got to the very top, where a door would lead into the room. Bakura cautiously opened the door and peeked in. they followed him as he took a few steps. "Bakura felt that his Millennium Ring was trying to tell him something." Yugi told Tristan. "Lately, I've also been feeling kind of settled myself. I feel that my Millennium Puzzle is also trying to tell me something. Something about Pegasus that nobody ever knew." "Is it something bad?" Téa asked. "I really don't know." They stopped talking as Bakura discovered and stopped in front of a large portrait, masked by the shadows. "Why did you stop, Bakura? What is it?" Yugi asked, looking around for something that's worth stopping for. As everyone searched for a light switch, the room mysteriously illuminated, revealing the identity of the painting's subject. "This, guys." Bakura stared up at the painting. "This is it." Everybody followed his gaze. Joey gawked at the portrait, "We've come all this way for a picture of Lia?! What's wrong with you?" "I don't know why!" Bakura protested. "But all of a sudden, my Millennium Ring stopped bothering me." "Don't you mean all of a sudden, your heart stopped bothering you?" Joey muttered under his breath. Bakura was about to retort when Téa interrupted, her eyebrows frowning, "Wait," she told them, examining the quaint portrait closer. Then she turned. "You guys, this isn't Lia." She declared. The woman in the cerulean dress was not somebody they have met, but it was identical to a painting in the dining hall, so Téa assumes that the woman must be special to Pegasus. "What?" The guys stared at her, then turned to the picture for a closer inspection. Téa was right. Though time protected her youth, the woman in the picture was obviously older than Lia. Her hair was the color of corn silk, while Lia's hair is toffee colored. Both of them had hair down to their waist. Her eyes were violet blue, and she was wearing the dress of the most luscious Prussian silk that followed the lines of her body, making her look like a freshly iced cake. But her fine features held a great resemblance to Lia. Her intriguing eyes were matched with a mysterious smile. Her delicate features were gentle and warm. From her soft appearances, she looked just like a woman deeply in love. "You were right, Téa." Yugi announced after a while. "Why! I've never seen such closed resemblance in my life!" Bakura confessed, dumbstruck. "But, who is she?" Téa murmured, taken by the lovely portrait. "Why would there be a picture like this in Pegasus's castle?" "Could it be possible that Pegasus had a woman in his life?" Tristan wondered. "That Winged Pony?" Joey scoffed. "No way! How could anyone like him be married?" thinking of the idea, he also laughed, but Tristan gave him a look that made him held back the laugh. "Well, you monkey," he started sarcastically. "Have you ever wondered why Pegasus acts like he does now? Or why he owns a huge castle by himself? Or why he never seemed to be interested in any females that come his way? Or-- " Joey's low snarl interrupted him. "That monkey thing gets to him every time." Bakura whispered to Yugi as they watched their best friend throw insults back and forth at each other. The insults eventually turned into a fist match. So it wasn't until they were in bed when Téa wondered the same questions that Tristan had asked. Why isn't Pegasus married? Why does he enjoy taking away people's souls? Could there be some tragedy that made him the way he is? What does he want KaibaCorp for? But the biggest question floated in her mind as she drifted off to sleep, where the picture of the woman haunted her dreams. Was there really something that Pegasus was after that nobody ever knew about?

Pegasus was quiet as he walked up the stairs of the tower that Yugi and his friends had just walked upon earlier that morning. This room was the only room in his castle that doesn't have a camera and even his associates didn't know it existed. He opened the tower door and closed it securely, then stopped in front of a portrait of a blonde beauty with violet blue eyes. This was his time and his only time of the day to spent alone. This was the only time that he shows his other side, his soft and tender side. The only time he gets to be close with his wife and enjoy the peace and tranquility in his heart. The only time and place where he can feel his wife's loving presence around him. He comes here every midnight, when he's alone and all of his associates had left. There, he talks to her as if she was still alive. "Cecelia." He said quietly, looking at the portrait longingly. The chuckling sarcasm flattering tone in his voice was gone and he sounded like a broken man, which no living soul has ever heard him sound like before. This was also the time he lets his true devastated self loose. "I miss you so much." He hung his head and his voice cracked. "I wish you were with me right now. I can't stand life without you. Why did you have to leave me?" His voice trembled slightly. "Why did you have to leave me to face life alone in this world? You don't know how much I need you to be here with me." He sank to his knees and tried to control the break in his voice. It didn't work. He felt a huge wave of anguish bubbling up within him. "We were married, Cecelia!" He cried, clutching his fist together. "Married! You were my wife! We were so close to having a wonderful life together! We were so close!" His fist hit the stone wall over and over again. Tears exuviate from his crimson eyes and he didn't try to stop them. He knew if he was to be well hidden behind a mask and be controlled and ruthless tomorrow, then he'd have to let his emotions out right now. "Why did you have to leave me!" He shouted. "I don't want to live a life without you! We were suppose to be together! Living together! Happily ever after! We were so happy together! We loved each other so much! We--" He was quiet for a moment as he tried to grasp control of himself. "I tried, okay?" His returned voice was broken. "I tried and it didn't work. I tried to imagine you were with me again when I had Lia in the castle. She looked so much like you that I thought if I dressed her the way you use to dress, then I could feel your presence." He cleared his throat as his voice was lost and thought about Lia. Like her dark, handsome brother, Lia had a light shade of milk chocolate brown hair and icy blue eyes. But there was something else about the girl that intrigued Pegasus. Lia had the beginning of the kind of haunting beauty that transcended description--a dreamy, otherworld quality, like his lost love had. "I tried pampering her like I did with you," He cracked out. "I took walks with her like I did with you in the setting afternoon sun, and I tried giving her the love I did with you, but I just couldn't. I love you, Cecelia! You and you alone! No one could ever take your place! Having Lia only made me realized how much I want and need you, Cecelia!" He broke down again, looking no longer like the charming gentlemen and graceful host at the party nor the millionaire that owned Industrial Illusions and had people waiting on his hand and foot. He only looked like a man whose heart had been broken one too many times. "I can't find happiness without you, Cecelia." He choked. "I tried everything. I tried taking people's souls away because I can't stand looking at anyone's happiness with their loved ones when you weren't here with me. It makes me feel better but it doesn't bring you back. I tried painting once again but I just couldn't! I only loved painting when you were with me! I tried to make myself happy with money and luxury, but without you, I found myself no happier than a poor, hardworking farmer who has a wife and children at home. This castle is cold and lonely without your presence. It hurts me to live in this castle, but this is where all of our happy times were and it shall remain here when I bring you back to life." He stood up and looked at his true love's portrait tenderly, composing himself. "I swear to God, Cecelia, I'll get those Millennium items and Kaiba Corporation to bring you back to life, even if it means sacrificing my own. I won't stop nor rest until Kaiba Corporation and all seven of the Millennium items are mine and you are by my side once again, that's a promise I'd keep forever."

"But, I don't understand, Seto." Lia cocked her head to the side. "Why in the world would you go and buy a new beach house?" She stood on the grass outside of the house. This house was almost just like the other beach house they have, except this one was deeper into the forest and on the other side of the ocean. "Because if Pegasus decides to send his men to come out here to search for you, that's would be the first place they'd look." Kaiba grabbed his briefcase and their suitcases off the helicopter. Like the other beach house, this one was too secluded to drive a car down to. Besides, Lia doubted if her brother has ever even driven a car before. He'd been to busy with his company to go get a driver's license and there was always chauffeurs to drive him around in their limo so that there is no need to learn how to drive. But than again, Seto always has ways of surprising her. "I miss Kaiba Mansion." Lia said stubbornly, not budging from her spot. Kaiba sighed. Out of both of his siblings, Mokuba was definitely the little angel. Lia, however, was older, so she pesters him about his decisions and questions his authorities more. Not that it's her fault, Kaiba confessed grimly. Part of his sister was like Mokuba, innocent and naïve. But the other bigger part of her was independent, confident, and difficult, like him. Half of her was trusting like Mokuba, and the other half was suspicious and cautious, like Kaiba himself. She knows how much danger and risks I'm going through. She knows how much stress I have. If she suspects that I have something going on, she's bother me and questions about it so she understands the whole situation, then declare herself as part of my plan. He smirked slightly. But not this time, sister dear. This time, you're staying right here and leave the whole parts of it to your big brother. "Well, so do I." Kaiba slammed the door of the helicopter and nudged his sister with the suitcase. "But we can't return right now. Pegasus has his men positioned everywhere, in and out. Now move, Lia. We're staying here." Lia scowled but gave up as she followed Seto into the house. She gasped in surprise as she looked around. "This is almost exactly like our other beach house!" She exclaimed. Even the vases and Chinas and Kaiba's valuable collector's items were in their place. She shook her head. Sometimes, she really wonders how her brother does things his way. "Yeah, so that you won't feel as alone when I leave." Kaiba said, fumbling with the alarm security number to his study. He pressed the number and the door opened automatically. "What?" Lia looked up at her brother. "You're leaving? Where? When?" Then, deciding she doesn't care where or when her brother's leaving, she declared, "I'm going with you." Kaiba sighed. "No." He said firmly, ending the conversation. "Listen, Lia. I know you're scared of living on your own, but you'll have to. You're not coming with me. You're staying right here. That's why I bought this new cabin, so you would be safe while I'm gone." "Well, where are you going?" Lia folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes were narrowed and determined. "Who's going to take care of your corporation? Or, even more precise, who's going to take care of you if I'm not going?" She asked stubbornly. "Nobody's going to take care of me." Kaiba tapped a few keys on his computer. "I'm going to be taking care of myself..." He looked up and out the window. Lia saw him set his teeth "...and Pegasus." Kaiba saw his sister's eyes widened, then narrowed again. She pouted to herself. Of course, nothing ever escapes Seto Kaiba's sharp eyes. Narrowing his eyes, he gave his sister the fourth degree of his death-look, which wasn't as strong and deadly as the ones he gives to his business associates or other people he loathes. It was like Lia to have the double-brother- character going on. Whenever she met up with some kind of crisis, she was always confident and had that calculating look upon her features, like himself. But at other times, she was so naïve and...childish, like the youngest Kaiba. This time, she has a little of both going on. She had the calculating look in her eyes and she was trying to baby her way through this one. "You will stay here," Kaiba said testily. "Even if I have to tie you down myself." "You might just have to do that." Lia scoffed. The two Kaibas faces each other, trying to use their chilling frosty eyes to stare each other down. Sometimes Kaiba felt sorry to have taught Lia everything he knows...like how to make their eyes intimidating and always hold your position. Because now, both of them are showing the same attitude and neither of them are backing down. "Lia..." Kaiba's dangerous voice had a warning tone to it. "Seto..." Lia mimicked, using the same tone of voice. Then, noticing the glare and his deadly scowl her older brother was giving her, her voice turned into a whine. "Please, older brother? I won't be any trouble at all." She walked across the floor to Kaiba and hugged his middle. Kaiba tried to keep a stern face, but didn't succeed as Lia buried herself deep into his shirt. He rolled his eyes heavenward and cursed himself for being so soft as he stooped down to hug her back. If he didn't have Mokuba or Lia, he wouldn't even have a conscience or a heart. "Aw, c'mon, pretty please, Seto? I'll be good, I promise." She coaxed. "No." Kaiba hated to say no to any of his siblings, especially if they give him the big, innocent, puppy-dog eyes to go with their whine, but this time, the matter was serious. He couldn't possibly endanger Lia by giving in to her. "Please?" Lia pleaded. "No." Kaiba clenched his teeth. If she asks one more time... "Pretty, pretty please, big brother?" She's giving him those darn innocent puppy-dog eyes. Kaiba gave a low growl deep in his throat. He knew he couldn't stand those big sad eyes looking at him for very long without giving in, "I said no!" He said sternly. But inside, his heart ached for his sister. She needs him, she doesn't want to loose him. Maybe I should...no. He scowled. He couldn't agree to get her come. It's a dangerous mission, not some vacation outing. No telling what that maniac Pegasus would do if he sees her. Before she could give him the hurt look, Kaiba sent her off to bed. She turned back anyway while she was walking back to her room, giving him her hurt puppy eyes. Her hurt eyes held a glint of determination. "Don't think you're rid of me yet." She sniffed at her brother. "Because even if I'm going to follow you all the way to Duelist Kingdom, I won't let you face Pegasus alone. You'd have to do more than tie me up to stop me from going with you, Seto." Well then, Kaiba thought as he watched his sister's retreating back. Good- bye, Lia. I won't be seeing you again until after I have rescued Mokuba, because there is no way I'm going to let you come with me to face Pegasus together. No way. If tying you up won't stop you, then I'll just have to use something else. Don't worry, little sister, when it comes to high tech security, you've met your match. And this time, our similarity in determination is not going to work on you. Not this time.