A/N: Long chapter as promised. Also, regarding Seth's comment on the clothes he wore back in Egypt... I suggest y'all go read up on it. It's pretty interesting. It wasn't uncommon for women to walk around in just a sheer dress with everthing exposed and the same goes for men. Fancy shmancy.

But here's the kicker: even though the Egyptians were familiar with the naked body an saw it on a daily basis, they were apparently shy about sex. Often times, when sex is talked about, it's through flower speech like "he had his way with" or "they unified that night" or stuff like that. So that's why Seth may be alright talking about the body, he's completely thrown off by the actual act itself.

Shout-out to my Lobster Mate HannahSakura2010 who reviewed this chapter ordering me to stop writing *cough* procrastinating *cough* and write the paper that's due tomorrow which I haven't started on. ^^

Chapter 56 summary: In which another group meeting takes place, Seth makes his first appearance in the physical world, Mai likes leashes, and the big problem is the mass media. Typical.


Problem Solving

The two half souls relaxed in companionable silence in the sul room. Kaiba's soul manifestation was just beginning to drift off when he was abruptly shaken awake. Annoyed, he opened his eyes and saw Roland standing above him. Confused, he looked around trying to make sense of everything.

"I'm sorry Kaiba-sama, but you have five minutes before your meeting," the man said.

Meeting? Kaiba blinked a couple time incomprehensibly before the events of the past day came flooding back to him bringing with them bone deep exhaustion. He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose, rubbing his eyes groggily as he sat up. One hour had not been anywhere near long enough. He needed to sleep not nap. It also felt like he had been woken in the middle of a sleep cycle so his body felt heavy and achy and his mind was still fogged with sleep.

He felt Seth send him comfort and support through their link and forced himself to get up. Mokuba was already up and standing in the common area talking with Helios. That brought up another matter that would need to be dealt with. Helios was a Greek and he was a refugee under Kaiba's and by extension the Shadow Court's protection. Something told the Regent he would have many more misadventures to deal with before too long. Hurrah hurrah.

Stifling a yawn, Kaiba walked up to the two people with Roland and Fuguta at his heels. "Hold on," he said, taking a hold of Helios's shoulder. Mokuba grabbed a hold of Kaiba's waist and Fuguta and Roland placed their hands on Kaiba's shoulders.

When he was sure everyone was in place, he drew his Shadows to him reveling in their ecstasy. The were eager to please and swirled around him. He released his consciousness to flow with the Shadows out into the city. He remembered where Java Script was and mostly how to get there. He reached out with his tendrils of Shadow until he found the small cafè. His Shadows slithered up the walls to the rooftop level and observed their surroundings.

The layout and decoration was very casual chic. Kaiba and his Shadows saw Oliver sitting in the built-in sectionals that along the low walls of roof in two corners of the roof, one outside and one under the fabric canopy. Every few cushions, a built-in wicker table with a glass top was installed giving the patrons a place to put their coffee cups. Plugs were evenly spaced in the walls beneath the cushions for computers and Kaiba guessed there was wifi available as well. A couple wooden bench swings were set up along the short wall outside. Several two and three person tables dotted the uncovered rooftop patio as well. Overall, it was just the type of place Kaiba would enjoy doing his work at. Quiet and relaxing with endless coffee, plugs, and wifi.

Oliver was sitting with Walter on his left and Diggle on his other side. Yami and Yuugi were coming up the stairs from the cafè below with trays of coffee which they set on one of the coffee tables. Jounouchi was swinging on one of the bench swings outside next to Mai. If the boy's puppy love had not been obvious to Kaiba before, which had been, it certainly was now. Shaadi, calm and unflappable as ever, was satisfied with sitting on the low wall outside and watching the cars go by. Ryou was sitting with Marik in one of the two person tables outside as well.

As for the Justice League, they were scattered around the rooftop. Wonder Woman looked nice in slacks stuffed into a pair of leather boots and a nice short sleeved shirt. Flash, still in uniform, was standing just under the artsy waterproof fabric canopy speaking to somone Kaiba was fairly certain was a shapeshifted J'onn. Hawkgirl had settled on one of the scattered ottomans so as to not cramp her wings picking at the feathers in the mask in her lap. Green Lantern, also still in uniform, sat beside her looking equal parts self-conscious and comfortable.

Kaiba felt Yuugi and Yami brush his Shadows in greeting and he responded in kind before sneaking a quick flick at Oliver's Shadows. He felt his Shadows squirm in amusement when the vigilante twitched in surprise before hestantly reaching out with his own Shadows to return the greetings. Taking that as a welcome, Kaiba settled in the middle of the rooftop and pulled his body as well as the others with him to the location. When the Shadows cleared, he let go of Helios and strolled up to the empty row of cushions on the short side of the wall so he could see the steps leading up to the roof from below nestled in the opposite corner as well as the entire rooftop.

Mokuba followed him, pausing only long enough to grab two mugs of coffee and fixing them like he and Kaiba preferred. When he came back, he handed his big brother the cup with straight black coffee and took a sip of his own before placing it on the wicker table on the right before climbing up and settling in the cushion immediately to Kaiba's right. Kaiba's blue eyes followed the boy's progress, crossing his legs comfortably when his brother joined him.

Fuguta and Roland, used to this method of travel, took a moment to survey the layout before positioning themselves in strategic locations. Fuguta moved to stand my the stairs leading to the rooftop while Roland stood casually close to the Kaiba brothers.

Helios stood awkwardly in the middle of the patio for a moment gathering his bearings. The trip here had been...intense. It felt like falling into a dark pit that was filled with something Helios could only assume was the essence behind the Egyptian gods' powers. It had been entirely foreign and disconcerting his powers had almost rebelled against the snless darkness. Helios had no desire to repeat that venture ever again if at all possible.

He grabbed one of the wrought iron chairs from a table outside and pulled it closer to the group so he could hear but still be in the sunlight. He noticed the others who had been sitting outside slowly coming over to join them too, pulling their own chairs and ottomans up.

"Took yer time gettin' 'ere Regent," Jounouchi chided.

"I was trying to sleep," Kaiba answered curtly. He glanced at Flash and Green Lantern significantly. "Am I missing something?"

"They don't want to jeopardize their civilian identities," Oliver answered for them. "That's why they're still suited up."

Kaiba raised an eyebrow, glancing at Walter before nodding. "Understood. I don't suppose introductions are necessary?"

Walter shifted. "I know who most of you are, but not everyone." He straightened his jacket self-consciously. "I'm Walter Steele."

Jounouchi smiled. "Jounouchi," he said proudly. "But you can call me Knight if you want."

Kaiba groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. Marik snickered. "Well, if we're doing it like that, then I'm the Priest."

"I'm the Scribe," Ryou said, waving shyly. "He's the Thief."

"I'm sorry, who the thief?" Walter asked, seeing no one next to Ryou.

"That would be me," a voice behind him said. Walter whiled around to see an identical white haired boy sitting casually on the low wall behind the cushions and examining the contents of what he recognized to be his wallet. "So you're a businessman, are you? Should've guessed from the way you dress, but then again, I'm so used to that one over there," he nodded to Kaiba, "wearing whatever the hell he wants-"

"Watch your language, young man," Walter snapped startling Bakura.

After a moment, the Thief grinned. "Oh, I think I like this one." He handed the wallet back and hopped off the wall, strutting back over the where Marik and Ryou sat. "As my Yadonoushi said, I'm the Thief." He bowed in mock elegance. "At your service."

"Bakura, behave yourself," Yami said. "Please?"

"The Pharaoh said please, 'Kura," Marik chimed. "I'd call that a victory. Now sit your butt down and behave."

"You've met my Sorceress," Kaiba said before things could devolve again, waving a hand to Mai who grinned and winked.

"Good to see you again," she said.

"A pleasure," Walter said, placing his wallet back in his pocket and sitting down.

"That's my Advisor," Kaiba continued, gesturing to Shaadi who nodded respectfully, choosing to remain silent.

"I think we've covered everyone except Helios over there," Mai said.

Helios folded his hands in his lap politely. "As Mai said, my name is Helios," he said simply. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Are you a part of the Shadow Court as well?" Walter asked.

Helios shook his head. "No, I'm not. I...long story short, they are giving me asylum."

"Asylum from what?"

The Titan glanced at Kaiba who answered in his stead. "A mutual enemy. I'm keeping an eye on him so that's why he's here."

"Alright," Walter said, clasping his hands on his crossed legs. "Explain away."

Kaiba, Yuugi, and Yami exchanged glances before Yuugi shrugged. "Basically," the young King began, "we, with the help of the Justice League and the vigilante, tracked down the culprit behind the killings here and dealt with him."

"You killed him you mean," Green Lantern said, glaring at the King.

"Killed him?" Walter gasped. He stared at the nineteen-year-old boy in surprise. "You killed a man?"

"It wouldn't be the first time," Kaiba said when Yuugi shrank back self-consciously under Walter's accusing stare. The man focused his attention on Kaiba who met it evenly. "Technically, we did not do the killing, the Penalty Game did. And before you ask, no, we did not cast the Penalty Game. The gods did. The Traitor's crimes were significant enough and widespread enough to warrant the gods themselves dealing with him. We simply allowed it to happen."

"Actually," Oliver said hesitantly. "I did the actual killing. It was my arrow that ended him."

But Kaiba was already shaking his head. "No. Your arrow was a mercy I deemed to grant. If that bothers you, then I will take full responsibility."

Oliver leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs and clasping his hands. "It does bother me," he said slowly. "But I accept the responsibility." His eyes were hard in his serious face. "This is my city and it's my job to protect it. I'll do whatever it takes to do that."

Kaiba nodded, a subtle smile on his face. "That said," he turned his gaze back to Walter, "do you, or any of you," he flicked his eyes across the crowd, "have any questions? Because we have questions for you."

It was Shayera who spoke first. "I do. How is Seth?"

Kaiba clenched his jaw and dropped his eyes thoughtfully for a moment as if in thought. /Are you sure you can handle this?/ he asked.

He felt Seth stir in his mind. /I believe I can, yes,/ Seth replied. /I'm still tired but I think as long as I don't waste too much energy talking or moving, I should be able to last the whole time./

"I'm sorry, who's Seth?" Walter asked.

"That would be me," a new voice that was almost indistinguishable from Kaiba's said softly. Walter turned towards it and blinked when there was suddenly someone there where there previously had not been. Stunned, the businessman looked around to patio and felt better when he noticed everyone but Kaiba seemed just as surprised as he was.

The person in question was nearly identical to Kaiba in appearance but his eyes were a more ethereal shade of blue and more almond shaped, his skin was a rich bronze. His hair was also only a shade or so lighter than his skin and long. Instead of the usual three braid style Seth preferred, this time his hair hung loose and free over his shoulder and down his back. He was sprawled on his right side across the cushion on Kaiba's left and resting his head on Kaiba's crossed legs. His arms folded under his chin supporting his head so he could watch the group from an easy vantage point.

Kaiba, for his part, was not only unsurprised by Seth's appearance but was perfectly calm and accepting of it. He even went so far as to place one hand possessively on Seth's shoulder.

"Seth?" Yuugi asked softly, standing and walking over to Kaiba and Seth.

Seth lifted his eyes and smiled. "My King," he said softly.

"Don't make him talk much," Kaiba said. "He's not strong enough yet to manage that and holding this form for long."

Yuugi nodded sagely. "I bet. I remember it took Yami several months to manage it," he said smiling back at the Pharaoh who blushed and sulked.

"It wouldn't have taken me so long if you hadn't been so stressed," he said.

Yuugi shook his head. "Well, maybe you learned not to try new things during my Finals week."

Kaiba snorted and Seth gave a cheeky grin. Mai, unable to contain herself any longer, jumped up from her place next to Jounouchi and skipped over to her Regent and enveloped Seth in a tight hug, cooing happily. "Aw, you're cuter here than in the Shadow Realm," she chirped. "Just wait until I tell Ishizu! She'll be over the moon."

Seth's eyes bulged in shock at the sudden rush of sensation, real sensation, and began shaking. After 5,000 years of only remembering the feel of things or growing used to how things felt using the Shadows or through Kaiba's body, the sudden intense tingling was bordering on pain.

Kaiba shivered as he felt every place Mai touched Seth on his own skin as if she were touching and not Seth as the backwash of sensation flooded into him. It was weird and unnerving and he wanted it to stop. He snatched Seth back from his Sorceress and clamped his Ba close to his chest glaring at Mai furiously.

Mai stared at the two in surprise. "That's rude," she huffed.

Seth was gasping and shaking subtly, his mind and Shadow-based physical form still trying to process what had just happened through his overloaded nerves. /Calm down,/ came Kaiba's voice in his head. /You're panicking./

/What was that?!/ Seth exclaimed.

"Mai!" Yuugi cried, leaping up and pulling the confused Sorceress back. "He's too new to this," he explained gently. "Yami was the same way for the first few months or so. He could only stand me touching him until he got over it. Don't initiate contact until he gives you permission." He smiled at Kaiba and a shivering Seth. "Don't worry. He's just overloaded, that's all." He scratched his head with an awkward smile. "It's kind of like when you come inside after being out in the cold for a long time without gloes. Everything tingles and burns for about an hour or so before going back to normal."

Mai blushed and waved at Seth frantically. "Oh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know. My bad." She calmed and offered him a friendly smile. "Didn't mean to scare you, sweetheart."

"He's not your sweetheart!" Kaiba snapped.

Mai blinked, then a sly smile formed on her face. "Oh, jealous are we?"

Kaiba held Seth tighter and glared, snarling viciously. Mai just cackled and strolled off back to her spot beside Jounouchi who was caught between laughing and asking loads of questions. Shaadi's eyes were large but he remained silent and still, storing away his questions for a later time.

/Are you alright now?/ Kaiba asked in concern, eyes never wavering from their glare.

Seth shifted his Kaiba's hold. /I...yes,/ he said. /I am. Just...don't let that happen again./

/After what that felt like? Don't even dream of it,/ Kaiba said firmly.

Seth blinked as Kaiba's hold on him eased and he settled back in his sprawled position again. /You felt it too?/ he asked curiously.

/Not like you did, but yes,/ Kaiba replied. Seth felt his Ka's discomfort at the memory and offered him a soothing brush of though in return. Kaiba deliberately looked away to cover his uncertainty. /It felt like she was touching me,/ he said.

Seth blinked in surprise before shooting Kaiba a sly grin. /Did it indeed?/ he teased.

Kaiba glared. /Don't even think about./ To Kaiba discomfiture, Seth merely snickered.

"Lord of Storms."

Seth's laughter died away instantly and he turned his head to where Green Lantern was half-standing in surprise and Hawkgirl had spread her ruffled wings in recognition. His eyes cooled. "Half of him, yes," he said.

"You're the other half of Kaiba's soul then," Lantern said.

Seth nodded. "I am."

Walter shook his head and dropped it into his hands. "Oh boy."

Oliver smiled sympathetically at his stepfather-to-bad and patted his back in a show of support. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm still getting over it too."

"But how is that even..." Walter trailed off and shook his head. "I mean I remember you explaining it before but actually seeing it..."

"I'll explain later," Oliver said. "Promise."

"So it wasn't you controling the Judgment Game," J'onn said.

Seth shook his head. "It was and was not. My soul and Kaiba's had temporarily become one."

"What he means," Kaiba interrupted, "is that our half souls united and during that time we were Set, the same Set who existed 5,000 years ago."

"So the power that called the storm was yours?" Wonder Woman asked.

Kaiba and Seth glanced at Helios before responding. "Yes, but it was stronger than it was in the past."

"Why's that?" Arrow asked.

"Power grows over time," Seth replied vaguely.

"So, can I ask," Flash said awkwardly. "Why are you wearing that?"

Seth blinked and looked down at himself curiously. He was wearing a simple, unadorned cream tunic that was unusually long, reaching down to his ankles. A slit went up either side of the fabric along the seams, stopping just before his mid thigh. Gold bands encircled his forearms and ankles and simple ankh earrings dangled from his ears. He was also barefoot.

He lifted his eyes with an ironic smile and said, "Because it's more suited to the weather here and is close enough to what I used to wear to still be somewhat familiar to me."

"Why don't you wear what you used to?" Diggle asked curiously.

Seth's grin became sly and poisonous as a viper. "Because your laws of indecency forbid it."

Kaiba snorted, as did Yami and Yuugi. Shaadi just closed his eyes and shook his head. Seth settled back on Kaiba's lap, his eyes flickering to Mokuba who was staring at him with open interest. He could feel his Ka tensing in both his mind and through his touch, worried about what Mokuba would think.

"Hello Mokuba," he said softly in Japanese. "It's good to finally meet you. You're all Kaiba thinks about."

Mokuba blushed and fidgeted, all the while smiling happily. He waved shyly. "It's nice to meet you too. Does..." He glanced up at his big brother curiously before returning to Seth's gaze. "Does this mean you're my brother too?"

Seth blinked and smiled fondly. "If you want me to be," he said.

Mokuba smiled then lifted a finger and waved it in a mock scolding manner at Seth. "Then make sure to keep Ni-sama out of trouble. He can be too hard headed sometimes."

"Oi!" Kaiba cried, staring at Mokuba in offense. Mokuba just snickered as did Seth.

Seth raised his pinky finger as he had often seen the two brothers do and said simply, "Promise?"

Mokuba beamed and hooked his own pinky with Seth's. "Promise."

Both giggled while Kaiba groaned. "Great, now there're two of them."

Marik chortled. "Oh don't worry," he said in perfect English. "It's not that bad," he said, looping his arms significantly around Ryou's and Bakura's necks. The Thief grinned and the Scribe blushed around his smile.

"Osiris take this mess," Shaadi muttered.

"No one asked you, stone face," Marik chirped, using the nickname Mai had given Shaadi. Shaadi jerked and aimed an aloof glare at the Priest who grinned unrepentantly. Frustrated, the Advisor tucked his arms in his sleeves in what was most definitely not a sulk.

"Our turn," Kaiba said, trying to steer the conversation back to safer topics. "How will you handle the media for all this?"

J'onn straightened. "We wanted to ask you before released an official statement," he said. "I am as of now still learning the ways of your mass media, but I believe you wish to avoid publicity, correct?"

Kaiba nodded. "If at all possible, yes. The longer you can keep our names, businesses, and affiliates out of it, the better. We are the Shadow Court for a reason. We operate in and with the Shadows. Besides," he added with a shrug, placing a hand subconsciously on Seth's head, "Yuugi, Yami, and I already have to deal with enough publicity as it is. I like having time to myself, what little there is of it. Also, I have Mokuba to worry about. I want him out of the public eye."

"Besides," Oliver added, "the news still has a few videos of you and me from when Shadow Thief first made his appearance."

Kaiba nodded thoughtfully, beginning to scratch Seth's head absently. Seth's eyes slowly began drooping as he sank into a comfortable trance. "Noa is brilliant," Kaiba said carefully, "but he's not omniscient or omnipresent. He can only deal with what he knows. There could very well be more videos of that incident, including some of me fighting Shadow Thief for all we know. But Noa can't deal with them unless he's made aware of their presence."

"You mean they'd have to be uploaded to the Internet," Flash said, rubbing his chin in thought.

"Yes, but even if something is loaded on the Internet," Ryou said, "you may never know it's there unless you accidentally or deliberately stumble on it or it goes viral."

"If I may," Walter said, drawing the group's attention to himself. "This is just a suggestion, but considering your involvement so far, perhaps it would be best if you told the truth. Not the whole truth," he said quickly, cutting off the half formed objections. "But just enough of the truth to hold water against cross-examination."

Kaiba leaned forward in interest. "I'm listening."

"No shit Sherlock," Jounouchi muttered under his breath. He squawked in indignation when a Shadow smacked his head and glared at Kaiba who refused to acknowledge him in any way. Oliver snorted, quickly covering his mouth with his hand to hide his smile. He had seen Kaiba's infinitesimal smirk before it had been hastily covered up.

Walter ignored the outburst and continued speaking. "They have video of your involvement, so don't deny you were involved. They may have video of you fighting back; again, don't deny it. I've done some research of my own and have learned a little bit about this Duel Monsters game. It's popular, I understand."

"Very," Yami said, intensely focused on the conversation. "Tournaments happen all the time, both official and unofficial."

Walter nodded. "Then if anyone asks why these," he waved his hand as he tried to find the correct words, "monsters or whatever are on video, tell them you were using your holographic technology."

Kaiba's furrowed his brows in thought. "That could work," he admitted. "But there's a flaw in your argument. I don't currently have or know of any technology that is small enough to hide on my person and still cast holograms." He had the decency to blush faintly. "I also wasn't wearing my Duel Disk at the time."

Walter waved that aside. "You're famous in the technology industry. Who's to say you don't have a prototype currently in the works?"

Kaiba's eyebrows lifted as his lips pulled back in a grin. "An interesting idea."

"And since you're already officially here to promote your latest virtual reality game," Walter finished, "why not give the public a tidbit of something new? Don't show your full hand, just give them something to think about, like a teaser for an upcoming movie."

Kaiba leaned back on the cushion, nodding quietly to himself. "That could work," he admitted. "But I won't bring it up. I'll only mention it if they do."

"I agree," Walter said. "Sometimes, it's imperative to be transparent with the public, but other times it's best to let the public and the media do the digging for you."

Seth shifted, settling his head to a more comfortable position and Kaiba waited before replacing his hand on his other half's shoulder. He could feel Seth's desire to move into the sun where it was warmer, but Kaiba was loath to let him go off alone, even if he would stay within sight. He could also feel the way Seth was paying close attention to the conversation around him, even if he did not look it.

"What about everything that happened today?" Wonder Woman asked.

"The Justice League took care of the problem and you get a happy ending," Yami said with a cheeky grin. "Isn't that the typical way of things?"

"I think," Helios said, speaking for the first time in a while, "the Shadow Court should be mentioned."

"Are you insane?!" Bakura snapped.

"Hear me out," Helios said sternly, focusing his sun gold eyes on the Thief. "I think the Shadow Court should mentioned, though perhaps not by name. Eventually, your Court will come to light; everything does given enough time. If hints of your existence and the fact you are not a force of evil has been ingrained deeply enough for long enough, then it is possible your acceptance into society will be easier."

"Yes," J'onn said.

"GAH!" Jounouchi shouted, jumping up from his seat and hiding behind Yuugi. "What the fuckin' hell is wrong with you?!"

"Language Joey!" Walter snapped.

Jounouchi pointed at J'onn accusingly. "But he scared the living shi-"

"Joey," Walter warned.

The Knight shrank under the scolding. "He started it," he mumbled, joining Yuugi and Yami on their ottoman. Yuugi laughed and patted his friend's back fondly. Yami threw his head back and laughed and even Kaiba smirked.

"So the puppy can be trained," Kaiba's voice said with a sneer. "Who knew?"

"Take that back Kai- wha?" Jounouchi paused in his rant to see Kaiba's lips pressed firmly together in an extreme effort to hold back laughter. It was Seth who met his eyes directly with a dark grin. "Dude," Jounouchi said. "Now I gotta deal wi' both o' you?"

Seth just smiled and rested his chin on his arms while Kaiba placed a hand over his mouth for a moment before regaining control of himself enough to remove it. "I suggest a collar," Seth said. "And perhaps a leash for good measure."

"Don't forget the little tags," Mai added with a teasing grin. "I love those. So much fun to play with and they jingle."

Jounouchi whirled around to the Sorceress in dismay. "Mai," he whined. "Not you too."

Mai merely waved away Jounouchi's words. "Oh, relax, Joey. We're just teasing," she said. "Well, they're teasing," she corrected. "I was being somewhat serious."

Kaiba pinched his nose while Seth blushed and sat up in shock. Jounouchi's face turned a shade of red that would have put an apple to shame and had to sit down and bury his head in his hands.

"I'll never win," the blonde moaned.

"Um," a very young voice spoke up curiously. "Why would he need a leash and a collar?" Mokuba asked.

"Nothing Mokuba!" both Kaiba and Seth exclaimed simultaneously. Yuugi and Ryou glanced at each other with crimson blushes on their faces while Marik and Bakura laughed hysterically. Mai examined her fingernails casually without a hint of a blush on her face.

"What?" she asked. "I'm into that."

"Mai," Shaadi said softly, his hand muffling his words as it covered the lower half of his blushing face. "Please don't encourage them."

Wonder Woman was astonished at these people's behavior. One glance at Helios and her fellow Justice League and she knew she was not alone. Even J'onn's currently dark skin was darker with the faintest hint of a blush. Walter at least was handling the situation fairly well. The man had no blush on his face, had crossed his arms, and was giving the entire group a stern glare any parent would be proud of. Surprisingly, it was working too. The Courtiers were calming down, if slowly with the occasional compulsive snicker.

"Honestly," Walter said in exasperation. "Where are your manners? Didn't your parents teach you to behave yourselves and respect your elders?"

That sobered everyone up. It was Shaadi who broke the tense silence first. "I do not remember my parents," he said simply.

"I vaguely remember my dad," Yuugi said. "But he died when I was young and my mom works a lot, so I live with my Grandpa."

"My mother died at birth," Ryou said. "My father is...ah, absent."

"Don't look at me," Marik said. "My mother committed suicide and I killed my father when he wouldn't stop abusing me."

Bakura shrugged. "Raped and murdered 5,000 years ago."

"Died in childbirth and on the battlefield," Yami said. "Also 5,000 years ago."

"Car crash," Mokuba said. "Then our adopted father fell out of a window." It was a credit to Kaiba that he made no move to correct his little brother.

"Illness and then possession by a god, before I killed him," Seth said softly.

"Mine are alive," Jounouchi said after a moment. "I love 'em both and they love me, it's just..." He shrugged. "It's hard. They're separated and my mom works two jobs back in Japan and my Dad's constantly at sea. He's in the U.S. Navy."

"My parents are also alive," Mai said. "They love me, but they aren't exactly proud of me for dropping out of college." Her eyes grew sad. "I kind of want to go back and graduate but," she shrugged. "I don't have the money or resources to do so. Besides," she waved away her melancholy nonchalantly, "I'm a Sorceress now. No college graduate I know of can claim that."

"We're each other's family," Yuugi said. "We keep watch over each other, are there when we need each other, and protect one another. The things we've gone through... They brought us together."

"Yes," Yami said. "When you've seen as much as we have, it creates bonds that aren't easily broken. Besides, it's better to fight with friends at your back."

"It's also more efficient," Kaiba said. "The last thing we need is a stranger backing us up. How am I supposed to know if I'm going to get the backup I need or a knife in my back if I can't trust the person I'm with?"

"Wise words," J'onn said.

Kaiba hummed noncommittally and wrapped his arm around Mokuba's shoulders. "Experience speaks louder than words."

"Agreed," Shaadi said. "On that note, however, I would like to ask your permission to return to Egypt."

Kaiba looked up to his Advisor curiously. "When?"

"Now, if it would be permissible."

Kaiba considered for a moment before nodding. "Give Ishizu my regards. And tell her I'll be holding Court tonight."

"So soon?" Mai asked.

Kaiba nodded. "I want everyone there," he said turning to Yami and Yuugi. "Everyone."

Yuugi sat up. "Is something the matter?"

The Regent glanced at Helios before switching to hieratic. "I've learned something that should not be discussed here."

Yami nodded seriously. "Should this be formal or informal?"

"Formal," Seth said in Kaiba's place. "This is serious. We want to ask the gods about it."

Yami sat upright. "That serious?" Seth and Kaiba nodded. "I see." Crimson eyes darkened. "We'll be there."

"Hey," Jounouchi said. "Wanna fill me in?"

"Later, Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi said.

"If that's all," Seth said in English, sitting up, "then I'm going to sit in the sun for a bit before retiring."

"I'll join you," Oliver said, standing.

Seth smirked. "Yes, I assumed you would."

Kaiba rolled his eyes and stood as well. "Then stop talking and move your asses,, he said, walking out to the sunlight area.