Chapter Four

"But Mr. Kaiba, hundreds of children have just joined!" Parker looked absolutely panicked.

"Well,tell 'em to forget it. The league is closed." Seto looked at his assistant,coldly. "Because of this league, children are being made ill, and dying." He turned his chair to face his office window. "

"H-how do you know?" Parker sounded rather anxious.

"My adopted sister is in the hospital, dependent upon a respirator, and clinging to life." Seto's voice seemed to crack. "Until I find out who's behind these attacks on innocents, the league is over." He stood up now, and walked towards the door. As his hand reached for the knob, he turned to look at Parker. "And if you know who it is, I suggest you come clean." He had detected the nervousness in Parker's voice.

"I haven't the faintest idea!" Parker was curiously indignant.

Seto's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you sure? Because if I find out differently, you'll be put out of a job!" He watched the other man for a few minutes, waiting.

Finally, Parker spoke up. "I'm sure, Mr. Kaiba."

Seto sighed. He didn't believe Parker was telling the truth, but he didn't have any evidence either. "Alright. Make those calls, then close shop." He walked out, and took the elevator downstairs.

Parker waited for Seto to leave, then picked up the phone. "He's gone now. I want whoever is behind this brought to me. We need to have a little chat. I can't afford to be found out. If he knew I was the one who took down his sister….well he must never found out. It could cost me the Pyramid!"

The voice on the other end laughed. "Calm down, Parker. Everything is going as planned. Pretty soon, I will have the Pyramid, and my daughter will be the better duelist."

"Carolyne is in no way a better duelist than Elizabeth Kaiba! That little girl has the potential to become the best duelist in town." Parker defended the youngest Kaiba, whom he now felt really sorry for. "She duels with a fury that rivals Seto Kaiba himself."

"Can it, you nit. Elizabeth may be good now, but what happens when her precious Pyramid is taken from her?"

The other end went dead,and Parker was forced to hang up. The man known as Powell was the one responsible for so much illness. Parker had become his loyal servant, to do his dirty work. Now, Kaiba's own sister was on her death bed, probably only surviving by her Pyramid , and respirators. He knew he had to help but what would happen if Kaiba found out he'd lied? What would Powell do if he ratted him out? He shook his head ,and set to work, writing the apology letter that would be e-mailed to the league partcipants.

"She's gotten weak again. There's not much more we can do for her ,Sir." Dr. Branch looked into Seto Kaiba's eyes. "She's fighting for her life, I can tell you that much."

"That's not good enough!" Seto was anguished. Sure she was only his sister through adoption, but that didn't matter. Lizzie was Mokuba's lifeline too.

"I've tried everything in my power, Seto. You know I would not lie to you." Dr. Branch closed the door to Elizabeth's room. "I'm giving her another two weeks, if that."

"No! Don't say that!" Seto looked in the window of Elizabeth's room. I was playing Duel Monsters with her, preparing her for the League Finals. "Please, there's got to be something you're missing, Dr. Branch. Please!"

"We've run every test possible, Seto. She's dying."

"She can't die! She's ten!" Seto sank against a wall, shivering. "She's going to play in the league finals, for the first time!"

"I'm sorry." Dr. Branch lingered for a minute longer, then walked down the hall.

"Oh god oh god, this isn't happening!" Seto let the tears flow. How am I going to explain this to Mokuba? I just can't! I've failed again.

Beside him, Joey was in shock. "Seto? Is there anything I can do for ya, man?"

The icy reply came softly. "No." He stood up, and walked into the room. "Bakura, we need to talk, now."

"Take over for me, Joey. She's about to wipe the floor with me." I smiled at Joey. "Don't LET her win, either."

"You got it, Bakura." Joey sat on the chair, and continued the game,as his two friends walked out of the room, closing the door.

"Bakura….. I don't really know how to tell you this."

"It's about Elizabeth, isn't it? What did the doctor say?"

"She's only got two weeks left, if that." Seto tried to keep his cool, refusing to let Bakura see him grief stricken.

"No…." I went numb inside out. "What about the Pyramid? Has Liza cracked yet?"

"It is a natural illness, Bakura. Poison. They haven't been able to detect what kind yet, but it kills slowly. She's in her last stages."

"God no! We've been through so much!" Bakura did not hide his feelings, as he curled up against the wall,crying into his knees.

"Ryou, I'm sorry. I tried everything in my power to help her."

"I know you did, Seto. I don't blame you."

"I shut the league down. I think it was an inside operation. I can't tell yet,but I promise you, she will be avenged if she dies."

I nodded. "I know. Seto, she was more your sister than mine. If you need any help…let me know."

"I will. I've got to go now, make sure Parker didn't screw anything up. Would you ask someone to bring Mo-Mo home? He needs to get ready for school in the morning."

"I will." I watched him walk off, then, as he was about to turn the corner, I called. "Thank you. For everything." He merely nodded, and I walked back into Elizabeth's room. As I watched her giggle at Joey's jokes, I wondered how it would be, not hearing that sound every day, like I had for the past five months. I shook my head. I couldn't believe I'd only had her in my care again for five months. Now it would be five months and two weeks. I watched her, and smiled. For a ten-year-old, she was definitely a prodigy duelist. Her moves rivaled Kaiba's own.

"Look, Ryou. I'm gonna win again." She giggled weakly, as I came closer to examine the status of the match.

"Wow. You really do have him licked." I winked at Joey. "She's going to win."

"Ah well. I'll get her next time."

There might not be a next time, Joey. I thought as I helped clean up the duel. "You should rest, Lizzie. I'm going to take Mokuba home now. Joey, will you stay with her until Yugi gets here? It's his night to stay with her."

"Sure thing, Bakura." He settled her down in the bed, then settled himself in Mokuba's former chair. "Sleep well, Elizabeth."

I led Mokuba out of the room, and walked to the elevators.