I apologize for taking a while to get this chapter posted, but it's ready now. ^^

Chapter 52

A little over a week later, Alex and Mokuba were hanging out with Yugi at the game shop. Alex and Mokuba had just finished another duel, with Alex being the clear victor, while Yugi watched on in amazement. After the duel ended, Yugi commented,

"That was amazing but confusing to follow at the same time."

Alex laughed a bit and replied, "Yeah, I understand. It can be difficult to keep up with all those summoning methods, but Mokuba's doing very well. He learns quickly."

Mokuba grinned and replied, "Thanks, Alex. I still want to win once, though."

Alex replied, "I understand, and I believe you'll get there. But for now, you're doing well. Your technique has gotten better, and you can handle all the summoning methods that Max and I taught you."

Yugi looked thoughtful and added, "I observed that Mokuba seems to really like – what was it – synchro summoning?"

Mokuba nodded and replied, "That's right. I guess I have my personal reasons."

Yugi looked questioningly at Mokuba, but before Mokuba could reply, Alex said, "I already told Mokuba this, but there's the prevailing theory that Seto invents synchro summoning."

Yugi nodded and replied, "I see. I wonder when that happens."

Alex shrugged and replied, "Difficult to say. Synchro summoning is cool, but I prefer xyz summoning myself. And well, you know which method Max likes."

Mokuba replied, "Yeah, but I don't get it. Link summoning is way cooler, and you can set off multiple summonings in one turn."

Alex replied, "That's what I keep telling Max, but yeah."

The conversation topic died down a bit after that, so Alex said, "Now that we've gotten our practice in, I should try to figure out the deal with this bracelet again."

Mokuba frowned and replied, "I'd protest, but I know you'll just say that we have no time left. So instead, Yugi and I are staying with you, so in case anything bad happens again."

Alex smiled and replied, "I understand, and I could use the help, too."

Yami replied, "Perhaps I could be of assistance."

Obviously, Yugi and Yami switched places, and nodding, Alex replied, "I'd like that. You mentioned before that this bracelet seems familiar to you. Perhaps if all of us put our heads together, we may finally figure out all of its secrets."

The group sat down comfortably and then Alex took out her tablet that contained all the information she'd gathered pertaining to her bracelet. She muttered,

"So according to this, because I'm the wielder of this bracelet, I have the power to change everything. But I don't get that. I'm just a normal person."

Yami smiled and replied, "I doubt that. I think there's something special about you, but you don't know what it is."

Alex looked questioningly at Yami and was about to reply when Mokuba pointed to a few inscriptions on Alex's bracelet and said,

"Did you notice this before, Alex?"

Alex looked at where Mokuba was pointing and shaking her head, she replied, "This escaped my notice."

She furrowed her eyebrows and tried to decipher the meaning behind the inscriptions but without success. Yami could see the look on Alex's face and said,

"This may be a longshot, but maybe I can take a look?"

Alex nodded and she moved her bracelet closer towards Yami so that he could see the newly found inscriptions. However, after touching the inscriptions, as though in a trance, Yami suddenly started to mutter in ancient Egyptian, which confused Alex and Mokuba. What was even more confusing, though, was what happened afterwards.

Before the group, there appeared a ghostly image of the brown-haired woman wearing Greek clothes. Indeed, she was the same woman that Alex saw many times before. She smiled at the group and looking specifically at Alex, she said,

"I knew you'd figure it out, or maybe it was sheer luck."

Alex laughed and replied, "Maybe both."

Yami was out of the trance he was in, and noticing the woman, he said, "It's you…"

The woman nodded and replied, "Yes, pharaoh. It has been a very long time, but I still remember you, like it was just yesterday. It looks like you're well."

Yami smiled and replied, "I am, and I have friends with me."

The woman smiled back and replied, "It's always good to be surrounded by friends. It is more dangerous to walk the path alone."

Alex asked, "Before we go any further, would you mind telling us who you are?"

The woman replied, "Yes, of course. My name is Alexandra from the noble family of Laskaris. And before you ask, I am your ancestor, Alex."

Alex widened her eyes and replied, "Wow, I did not see that coming."

Mokuba grinned and replied, "Come on, Alex. The resemblance is obvious."

Yami added, "You two appear a little similar."

Alexandra replied, "Thus, Alex is my descendant. However, it may be confusing to address me with the same name, so just call me Alexa. That's what my friends used to call me."

Alex replied, "That is a bit easier. So now we know who you are, and I know you're aware of the impending danger."

Alexa replied, "I am. You probably want to know who's behind all this."

She glanced at Alex's deck, which was laying on the coffee table, and she added, "I assume you've got a hold of the divine creatures. There's one you're missing."

Alex nodded and replied, "Yes, I noticed, but… Wait, are you saying that creature is the one causing all this trouble?"

Alexa replied, "I'm afraid so. When I had that duel with him, I was able to imprison him. But somehow, he got free. I don't know what his plan is, though."

Alex replied, "So far, he's captured pretty much all the most powerful duelists from their time, but the question is why. He's not killing them, at least."

Yami replied, "Maybe he's after their dueling energy?"

Alex and Alexa looked questioningly at Yami, as did Mokuba, and Yami added, "The more powerful a duelist, the stronger their dueling energy is. If that's what he's after, he must need it for his purpose. As to what it is, I think he's the only one who can answer that."

Alex nodded and replied, "Yeah. This may come down to a showdown."

She sighed and added, "I really hope it won't come to that."

Yami smiled hopefully at Alex and replied, "Perhaps he can still be reasoned with."

Alexa frowned and replied, "I highly doubt that. I tried dueling some sense out of him, but he was being stubborn."

Alex looked at Alexa and replied, "I watched that duel the two of you had, and I have my thoughts about it. I won't say them for now, but I think that if it comes down to it, I may know how to get through to him."

Alexa smiled and replied, "You are my descendant and highly intelligent. So I'm sure that if anyone can solve all this, it's you."

Alex laughed and replied, "I hope so, but I'm not alone in this."

She looked at Mokuba and Yami, and pumping his fist in the air, Mokuba replied, "Yeah! We'll help Alex and fix all this."

Alexa replied, "I'm happy my descendant has good friends and from what I heard, she found love, too."

Alex couldn't help blushing, and Mokuba replied, "That's right. Alex is the best thing that's ever happened to Seto."

Alexa nodded and turning to Yami, she asked, "I assume that Kaiba is still in denial about his past?"

Yami replied, "Yes, but we've learned to accept it and not push."

Realizing something, Yami asked, "Since we've met before, you know my actual name, don't you?"

Alarm bells went off in Alex's head, and Alex turned to Alexa, hoping that she wouldn't spill the beans about Yami's true identity. Alexa smiled knowingly at Yami and replied,

"That's right, but there are some revelations better made on one's own. It would be unwise of me to just give you the answer when it's best that you figure it out. Everything has to happen all in good time, like what happened here."

Yami nodded and smiling, he replied, "I understand. In that case, I won't pressure you to tell me."

Inwardly, Alex was relieved that Alexa didn't say anything revealing. The group continued to talk for a while, and then Alexa said,

"I should return to Astral and the others, but when the time is right, I'll show up again and I might bring company with me."

Alex replied, "You mean, we might need help from Astral and the others?"

Alexa nodded and replied, "That's right. That was a reason, along with making sure that he and that woman wouldn't get to them."

Alex nodded and then Alexa said, "We'll see each other again soon."

The image of Alexa vanished, and the group took a few moments to process everything they experienced. Then Yami said,

"It was good to see her again. It felt like seeing an old friend."

Alex nodded happily and replied, "Yeah, I can relate to that, and it's nice that I have family who are looking out for me."

Mokuba replied, "She's something else, but you'll always be the best, Alex."

Alex laughed happily and replied, "Thanks, Mokuba."


Meanwhile, Max was walking with Yusaku. Both of them were wearing the standard male school uniform from Yusaku's school and they were chatting in confidence.

Yusaku looked seriously at Max and said, "I know you'll have to leave here soon and return to Alex, but make sure to tell her the possible dangers of using that item."

Max replied, "I will, and I know how Alex can be when she has her mind set on something. I've come up with something in case Alex recklessly throws herself in danger."

Yusaku smiled a bit and replied, "That's good. Also, take this."

He handed Max a small flash drive, but before Max could say anything, Yusaku said,

"Assuming that things happen the way they've been going, Ai won't be safe with me."

Max immediately replied, "But-"

Yusaku shook his head and interrupted, "Alex will need Ai. She's going to need all the help she can get. It's the only way to take down this enemy once and for all."

Max sighed and replied, "I guess you're right, and we all want Alex to survive in the end, even if she ends up with that moron."

Yusaku smiled awkwardly and replied, "I'm still surprised when you told me about Alex and Kaiba. I never thought I'd hear about that becoming a thing."

He sighed sadly, and not escaping Max's notice, Max asked,

"You have a thing for Alex, too?"

Yusaku replied, "I don't know. It might just be a crush. I found her interesting from the moment I met her, like I knew there was something different about her. But after what you told me, I guess I know now."

Max replied, "I understand. I've had a thing for Alex for a long time, but then…"

He blushed, thinking about an encounter with a particular girl he met shortly after meeting Yusaku. Yusaku noticed this and replied,

"Oh, it looks like you're over Alex."

Max laughed awkwardly and replied, "I'm sure Alex will be relieved to hear that. But yeah. There's no point in continuing to harbor feelings for Alex when I know her heart only belongs to Kaiba. So it's best that I move on."

Yusaku nodded and replied, "I agree, and maybe after all this is over, you could choose to stay here. I'm sure she'd love it."

Max smiled and replied, "I would like that a lot. Assuming that Cas would be ok with it, of course."

Yusaku was about to reply when he got an alert on his phone that needed attention. He read the text message on it and muttered,

"I have to go."

Max looked concerned and replied, "What is it?"

Yusaku replied, "I have to go into the VRAINS."

He looked at Max and said, "I shouldn't have to say it, but if there's trouble here, return to Alex. Everything will depend on you guys, and Ai should be able to help."

Max nodded and replied, "I understand. Be careful."

Yusaku nodded and then without saying another word, he ran off, and Max could only watch him, hoping against all odds that Yusaku would be ok and that he would be able to defeat whatever trouble he had to face.