Hey guys, GG here! Sorry it took so long to get the last chapter out. It's been sitting in my computer forever but I was soooo busy I didn't get to update it until recently! But Gomen, I will eventually have to end this story. Yes, it's getting down to the wire! Sydney, a princess??? WHOA! lol.... it will all make sense... I promise. I know yall lookin at me funny about Sydney, but just trust me, not everything is as it seems! ^ - ^ But be ready for the updates to come faster because the story has only a couple chapters left... so READ ON!
Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, don't own it, wish I owned it... but yada yada yada.
Chapter Twelve: The Story of Sydney Part One
Kaiba blinked.

Joey tilted his head slightly as he looked at the young CEO,"What's up, Kaiba? Ya not eatin'."

Kaiba raised his brow and looked down at his plate. He raised his gaze back to Joey, where he had cleaned his plate and seemed to have gotten more food on his shirt and face than in his mouth. It was a disgusting sight and even the young CEO's stomach lurched at the gruesome display.

"How do you expect me to eat when you're getting food all over yourself and eating with your mouth hanging open?"

Joey laughed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck,"Uhhh...sorry....I haven't eatin' all day so I'm really hungry!"

Kaiba snorted,"You're always hungry, Wheeler."

Joey shrugged and immediately returned to stuffing his face, causing Kaiba to look away disgusted.

"Maybe I'll just go sleep for awhile," The brunette commented as he slowly withdrew from the table,"Mind if I sleep in your room?"

"Shhhure..." Joey swallowed before continuing,"It's the first door on the right upstairs."

Kaiba headed up the stairs silently and opened the door to his room, and quirked a brow at the inside. It was neat, to Kaiba's suprise, and was covered in posters of advertisements of Duel Monsters events, including the recent tournament of Battle City that he himself had held. He expected, much, much worse of him. The room was actually halfway discent considering the budget of the house and Joey's disgusting eating habits. He slowly walked towards the bed and slowly let his trenchcoat drop from his shoulders. He slipped it onto a nearby chair and slowly layed himself down onto the bed, pulling his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. It had been such a long day and now he was still pondering over the constant question that cursed his every thought.

'Why did she do this?'

Sure, she had told him it was to get his affection but he knew that was not the only reason. There was more and Sydney was intending to keep it from him. He racked his brain, trying to remember ANYTHING about herself that she had told him and yet each time he came up dry.

"Not a single thing...." Kaiba whispered to himself,"I don't know a damn thing about her.."

His mind suddenly flickered when he had remembered one occasion when he had been practicing in his lab with his newly improved Dueling Disk System. The previous one he had used at Duelist Kingdom and at Battle City had bored him and he had been determined to come up with an even better and more impressive version. So he had tested it and Sydney had found her way into the room. Kaiba wasn't sure how the conversation had started but he was sure that she had told him that she had never heard of him or his company before she came here. The thought made him look at her funny and she had laughed about it. She shrugged it off and had told him that she had moved from far away, and that where she was from was not big on Duel Monsters.

"Another lie?" Kaiba asked himself outloud,"I can never tell with her. She lies almost as good as I do."

Kaiba chuckled at his own statement, but his laughter dwindled when he vividly remembered the conversation and how she had weaved past all of his questions and kept personal information from him. Than he hadn't thought much about it and he had been distracted as he was practicing but now he had wished he had pushed the subject further. He wanted to know. He NEEDED to know who she really was, why she had really come here and why she had chosen him to be her play toy. Or maybe the truth was so unbareable that she had spared him of the torture.

Kaiba laughed at that thought.

"Torture?" Kaiba snorted,"I'd get more from just watching Wheeler eat."




"He's WHERE?"

Yugi looked at the young black-haired boy and laughed slightly,"I know it seems strange but Joey offered him to stay with him until things well.... settled down."

Sydney avoided Yugi's attempt at eye contact and slowly turned to head back outside the gameshop. She was stopped abruptly when Mokuba tugged on her coat, causing her to look at him.

"Sydney, don't go yet," Mokuba said softly,"We don't even know where Joey lives."

Yugi forced a warm smile,"I could lead you there, if you like. It's not that far from here."

Mokuba smiled,"Thanks Yugi!"
Sydney grunted as she let the holder of the millenium puzzle lead her and Mokuba down the street towards Joey's home. She eye him suspiciously, knowing that he definitely knew more than he put on. The way he kept trying to hold eye contact with her was un-nerving and his eagerness to help was even worse. She thanked the gods that thankfully it would all end shortly. She was actually glad Yugi had volunteered to lead the way, this way, she'd have pretty much everyone involved with her so she could explain herself.

Mokuba steadied Sydney's silent figure and than at Yugi,"Do you really think Seto's okay?"

Sydney head shot up at Mokuba's question as Yugi nodded slightly,"Considering the condition he was in when he arrived at the gameshop, he should have calmned down by now. I'm not sure what had him so revved up but he seems okay now."

Mokuba and Sydney exchanged glances but than looked to Yugi again.

"Why did Seto goes so willingly with Joey?" Sydney asked suddenly,"I'm sure even Joey knows he can't stand being in the same room with him."

Yugi shrugged and kept on walking,"I'm not sure. We were all in my room and of course the two started arguing like crazy and than well... the whole room joined in....but I don't know... I guess Kaiba's changed alot since his return."

Sydney didn't buy a single word and narrowed her eyes at the pharoah host. Even she could sense the pharoah within the puzzle as he talked, as though he was helping him word what he was saying. She decided to let it go for now and followed Yugi up to the steps leading to Joey's front door.



Kaiba slowly opened his eyes and shot up into a seated position. He let out a relieved sigh and relaxed. He had forgotten where he was for a second. He lazily raised a hand to retrieve his trench coat that lie along a chair beside him and raised his gaze to the clock along side Joey's desk.

'Six hours...I've only be asleep six hours...."

He slowly began to stand, slipping on his trench coat and proceeded to the door of the bedroom. His hand paused when he picked up the sound of familar voices. Kaiba slowly stood, his hand on the doorknob and an ear against the door.

"Is Seto alright?!"

"Mokuba?" Kaiba asked outloud as he heard the sound of his brother's voice.

"He's fine, just restin'," Joey's voice came next.

"Is he feeling any better?" Kaiba snorted when he recognized Yugi's soft voice and slowly opened the door to the room and proceeded to the stairs. He stood at the top and tilted his head slightly to see the figures seated in the living room. As he had predicated, Joey, Yugi and Mokuba were the three voices he had heard. He was surprised to see Mokuba in well condition and quickly began to descend the stairs to wrap his younger brother in a hug when an unsettling feeling came over him.

"Wait a second," Kaiba said softly aloud to himself,"How did he get here?"

"I need to talk to him."

Kaiba's face faulted when he picked up the feminine voice. He didn't need to lean to know if it belonged to Sydney. He knew her voice from anyone's. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, his body just a foot from the entrance of the living room. No one noticed him yet as he stood there, examining the face of the one he swore revenge on just earlier that night.

"I don't know if dat such a good idear," Joey said rubbing the back of his neck as Sydney's face fell into a contorted look of hurt.

"Why not?"

Kaiba suddenly felt his anger begin to rise again,"Because I would likely kill you if you tried."

Sydney's gaze rose at the familar sound of his voice. She stood up immediately and took a step back from everyone else, as though she were frightened of what he might do. Joey simply blinked, suprised that Kaiba hadn't included himself in the conversation earlier, he knew how Kaiba could get, especially when he was angry.

"Seto!" Mokuba cried hysterically as he ran and wrapped his brother in a tight hug,"You're alright!"

Kaiba looked down at his brother and rubbed the child's shoulders affectionately,"I'm fine, Mokuba. Sorry to worry you."

Joey's gaze continually went from Sydney to Kaiba,"Uhhhh... would ya guys like ta be alone?"

"No." Came a unison reply.

Yugi's voice cut in before Kaiba opened his mouth to release another wave of anger onto Sydney,"Maybe we should all sit and talk."

Sydney shook her head and looked between all of them,"I actually would like to tell you all something."

Kaiba snorted and growled angrily,"Why should I give a shit? What are you even doing here, Sydney?! Did my company not satisfy you? Do you want to take the clothes off my back too?!"

Sydney frowned angrily,"That is not why I am here! Just listen!"

"Come over her and make me," Kaiba shot back angrily, taking a step forward,"Or will you send your henchman after me again?!"

"DAT'S ENOUGH ALREADY!" Joey yelled at them angrily. He had suddenly stood and put himself between the two, raising a hand to stop Kaiba's persistant attitude.

"I don't care if ya don't wanna listen, Kaiba," Joey said to him angrily,"I want ta know what's REALLY goin' on."

Kaiba was not only angry but insulted,"You're telling me you would buy her story over mine?! Did you not see how messed up I was earlier?! I wasn't playing around, Wheeler, I meant what I said!!"

Joey shook his head,"Dat's not what I mean. I just want ta hear both sides ta the story, dat's all."

Mokuba tugged on Kaiba's trenchcoat and he looked down,"What is it, Mokuba?"

"Listen to her, Seto," Mokuba pleaded,"Please?"

Kaiba raised a hand to his forehead.

'God, he knows I cave when he looks at me like that.'

Yugi slowly gestured to the open spots on the sofa,"How about you come sit down, Kaiba."

Kaiba and Sydney exchanged hard looks before Kaiba reluctantly made a move to the couch, taking Mokuba with him and seating himself on the far end. Sydney slowly walked steadily back to her side and slowly sat down as well, her seat diagnol from Kaiba and Mokuba's. Joey sat beside her as Yugi took the empty seat next Mokuba.

Kaiba eyed Sydney,"So talk."

She frowned,"Fine but must you say like that?"

He snorted,"How else should I act toward someone who wanted to kill me?"

Sydney suddenly began to stand and watched as Kaiba did the same. He took it as a challenge and even she knew Kaiba never backed down from a challenge. Joey grabbed a hold of Sydney's arm, pulling her to sit and causing Kaiba to slowly lower himself as well.

She let out a deep sigh and gestured toward a corner in the room,"Let me first start by introducing you to Garuza. Come out, won't you?"

Everyone turned in surprise as a man dressed in a long black robe and hood withdrew from the shadows in the room. Kaiba's eyes widened in shock and he grabbed a hold of Mokuba, slowly standing from his seat and backing away from the figure. It was definitely the figure that had tried endlessly to kill him during those few weeks he had disappeared.

Joey was in shock,"He was in my house the WHOLE time?"

"YOU BROUGHT HIM WITH YOU?" Kaiba shouted at Sydney,"You are truly messed up!"

She frowned annoyed,"Sit down! He's not going to hurt you."

Kaiba looked at her,"Like hell."

It was Sydney's turn to yell,"I said SIT DOWN damn it! Unless you want me to MAKE him seat you."

Kaiba reluctantly re-took his seat but made sure to have Mokuba seat on the other side of him, as far away from the figure as possible. Joey stared opened mouth at the whole situation, not knowing how to even react. She really had done what Kaiba had told him she did.

Yugi was confused and turned to Sydney slightly,"You hired this man, Sydney? But why?"

She let out another deep sigh and looked to Garuza,"Do me a favor?"

Garuza nodded and turned to them all, bowing shortly,"I am Garuza, first knight to Mi Lady Sydney."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Joey said raising his hands before he went any farther,"Did you just say 'Mi Lady'? Ain't that used for royalty or somethin'?"

"That is correct," Garuza replied,"The woman before you is indeed royalty."

Kaiba's brow shot up in curiousity,"She sure doesn't act like royalty."

Sydney shot him a look, a blush creeping onto her face at his suggestive remark. Realizing what he had said, Kaiba blushed as well and quickly defended his remark before anyone else caught the tone in his statement.

"You certainly don't regard yourself as though you were royalty," Kaiba insued,"Why didn't you freakin' tell me?!"

She shrugged,"For many reasons."

"So what?!" Kaiba frowned,"Alteast tell me one!"

Garuza cleared his throat,"May I continue?"

Sydney nodded,"Please do."

"I assure you Seto Kaiba," Garuza said to the brunette on the long couch,"Mi Lady is a very gentle woman. Her intentions were not to cause you harm. However, I was instructed by someone higher above her command to kill you."

"What?" Both Sydney and Kaiba responded at the same time.

Sydney turned to the man angrily,"Why didn't you tell me this?"

"Forgive me," He responded,"I was not allowed to."

Sydney stood up and faced the man,"DAMN IT GARUZA! You've known me since I was a baby! You knew how I felt about Kaiba, you should have told me!"

Garuza simply stood and let his superior yell at him without flinching. He couldn't do much else. Sydney's body was shaking with anger and Kaiba just watched before his temper and impatience shattered her moment.

"HEY!"

Sydney spun around to see an annoyed Kaiba,"What?"

Kaiba eyed her angrily and wefted his hand in the air,"Forget that for now, I want to know where the hell you're from."

Joey sneered,"Geez, Kaiba, be any more blunt and I will end up hiring this guy to hurt you."

"Okay, enough." She replied, reseating herself into her seat and looking to Kaiba,"Anything you want to know, I will tell you."

"Good, than tell me where you're from," Kaiba said coldly,"And why you chose me."

She nodded and bit her lip before speaking,"I orginally had set a story of where I was from to hide my true identity, but I am from Virtue."

"Virtue?" Yugi suddenly asked,"Isn't that a town from centuries ago?"

Sydney looked at him surprised,"Yes. I assume Yami had told you about this, am I right?"

All eyes shifted to Yugi and he nodded slowly.

"He's told me many things about the past," Yugi said while everyone watched him,"He's told me about the cities he's ruled over, places he visited and other pharoahs he had met along the way."

She nodded,"Than he should remember me than."

"You didn't answer my second question."

Sydney turned her head to Kaiba to see he had his arms crossed now and a deep scowl graced his handsome features,"Yes, I know, Seto."

"Than tell me," Kaiba said to her,"Why did you choose me? What's this all for? And who are you really?"

Garuza looked to the young man,"You shouldn't ask such eager questions, my boy. She is royalty, treat her as such."

Kaiba frowned and Sydney raised a hand to Garuza's coat, haulting anymore than just a verbal confrontation. The man looked down as the young woman looked at him with warm eyes.

'There he goes being all protective of me again, just like my brother,' Sydney thought to herself as she watched Garuza relax under the touch of her hand.

"It's alright, he deserves to know," She looked back to Kaiba and tried to smile slightly,"My real name is Sydnelia Murusa or Sydney to those who know me. I am the third daughter of the Pharoah Geru of the southern part of Egypt. And Seto, I did not choose you for any particular reason besides the fact that your company had power and I intended to use it to lure someone out from hiding."

"Lure someone out?" Joey interrupted,"Who's after you, Sydney?"

"It's not merely as who is after me, Joey," She said softly,"It's more like who is after my father."

Yugi's millenium item stirred slightly at her lst words,"They are after your father?"

"Yes."

Kaiba's brow raised,"So last night-"

Sydney stopped him with her hand,"Please Seto, we will talk about that later."

Everyone else in the room was oblivous to what they were talking about.

She lowered her hand and looked at him sternly,"Is there anything else you wish to ask me?"

Kaiba nodded,"Why did you hire someone to come after me? Why didn't you just tell me what was going on? I would have listened to you."

"I highly doubt that."

The brunette sneered,"How would you know?"

"You've changed alot since the first day I met you, Seto," Sydney explained,"Remember the first day at school? You were showing me around and had actually left me with Joey. I knew you wouldn't listen to a word I'd say. You would have never believed me."

She watched his face contort and he nodded,"I suppose you're right."

"Hey uhhh.... Sydney..."

She looked to Joey and smiled,"Yes Joey?"

"I was wonderin' if the city yer from is some ancient city than how are ya here right now?"

Sydney's face fell from her smile into remorse,"I was afraid one of you would ask me that."

Garuza placed a hand upon her shoulder,"Do you wish me to tell them, Mi Lady?"

"No," She replied softly,"It's alright, I will tell them."

She slowly stood and let her hand wander to the inside of her shirt, which she slowly pulled a necklace from it. Kaiba's eyebrows raised at the site of it. He remembered the shiny gleam from it the night before when they had been together. The metal had brushed against him during their lovemaking and he had ignored it completely. He didn't think it held any significance.

She grasped the necklace and turned to Garuza who nodded slightly than looked back to them,"I will now show you all my true form."

"True form?" Kaiba asked,"You mean this isn't the real you?"

"Yahh," Joey agreed,"What are ya talkin' 'bout?"

Yugi continued to remain silent, listening attentively to everything that was going on. He knew at some point, Yami would want to break through and handle the situation from a certain point on, but for now, he could only listen.

"Yes," Sydney told them,"I know it sounds strange to you, but this is the real me, but in a human form."

The statement only confused them more.

"Allow me to show you."

She grasped the necklace and the room watched in awe as a bright light suddenly engulfed the girl's figure. The light was so intensely bright that Kaiba had to raise an arm to shield his eyes from the pain. The light covered her and soon her body was barely able to be seen amongst the glare. The only item able to be seen was the glowing necklace that hung around her neck.

The light suddenly died down, leaving the room to rub their eyes, trying to recover from the intensity of the light. Kaiba was the first to recover and he immediately shifted his eyes to the young woman that stood before them.

He blinked a couple times before he allowed himself to register what he was seeing.

'She's so.... so........'