I was going to update sooner, except ff.net went down, ~again~. Anyway, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that this chapter is considerably longer than the previous. The bad news is that I've left you lot on an even bigger cliffhanger! Aren't I so nice? But I think this is the last really large cliffie (I kinda forget), so never fear!

As well, I only have one more chapter to write and then I'm finished. I probably have about five more to put up at my leisure, but I'll then be moving onto a non-Yu-Gi-Oh project. . .for now.

The reviewers. . .

Yoshimi: Hey, good to see you, *Yosh'* (heh heh heh)! I'm glad you reviewed. You'll see what happens very shortly, never fear. . . *tries to look mysterious and fails miserably*

Ori: I didn't mean to insult you. No offence was intended. And I so pity you--all that work to do. And you're right, how most don't seem to get it. The true authors were blatantly obvious about the pairing. Come ~on~, people!

Kurai chan: Yes, the insertion of the thieves was a pretty obvious device, I admit it. But I've given a bit of a twist to the whole "damsel in distress" scenario. You'll see. . .

celes: Don't worry, Ishizu's one of my favourite Yu-Gi-Oh characters. I'm not about to let anything nasty happen to her. Now, KAIBA on the other hand. . .just kidding.

Ieyre: Kaiba? Stubborn? Nooooo, of course not! How could you ever think that of either him or Ishizu? Such a strange notion. . . . I don't even need to point out the extreme sarcasm in this, now, do I?

Midnight Raven*Soaring Angel/Lonely Tears: Making Kaiba mad is SO much fun! It's almost too easy. And here's the update!

YamiYugi's Pharaohess: Yay! Another sensible person who agrees Kaiba should be paired up with Ishizu and not Serenity! Whoohoo! Here's the 'more' you requested!

ChildofMidnight: You can get up from your knees now! I've got another chapter for you. And as for my deviousness. . .trust me, you have only seen the beginning of it. . .MWAHAHA!

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Well, is that everyone? Good! Then be prepared for another cliffhanger and (hopefully) a rather interesting chapter!

~ * * * ~

On the way over to Domino Museum, I tried to reason out the meaning as to why, precisely, I was going to see Ishizu at this time of night. What could I possibly have to say to her? I wondered angrily. And yet, for some reason, I felt it imperative that I drop by. Was it a sixth sense? Was it my dormant conscience, reviving at last? Or did it have something to do with my conversation with Mokuba earlier that evening. . .

["I summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" I called out triumphantly. "White Lightning Attack!"

"Aw, no, Seto, you won again!" Mokuba complained good-naturedly as his monster was destroyed. "Do you ever lose?"

I sauntered over to his side as the holograms vanished and grinned down at him. "Nope. Not recently, kiddo. Now, have you finished up your homework yet?"

"Uh-huh." Mokuba nodded. "But could you check over my math problems for me? I'm not sure I'm doing them right."

"Sure thing."

As we travelled through our mansion, Mokuba seemed to want to inquire something, but never quite carried his impulse through. Finally, as I was sorting through my little brother's work, squinting to read the messy writing, Mokuba finally brought up what was troubling him.

"Big brother. . . . I have a question."

"Go on," I mumbled as I circled a wrong answer.

"If Obelisk the Tormentor is really Ishizu's card, then why haven't you returned it yet? And what was your plan that you messed up, anyway?"

Very carefully, I set down the pencil. I gazed at his somehow still innocent face. It always amazed me. After all the trouble we had been through, first with being orphaned, then with our abusive adoptive father, then Pegasus, then the Big Five, and finally the Rare Hunters, I was--and still am--amazed that Mokuba is as naïve as he is.

I took a deep breath. "Ishizu gave me that card, so I tend to see it as mine. Possession is nine-tenths of the law, after all. And my plan was. . ." How do I explain things like kissing and lust to someone as young as my little brother? ". . .well, to give back Obelisk and then pick Ishizu's pocket." It was the truth, admittedly with a couple of essentials left by the wayside.

Mokuba frowned. "Seto, that's not very nice."

I half-shrugged. "That's business, kid."

"Well, if that's business, then I'm glad running KaibaCorp's your job and not mine. Poor Ishizu. She was nice enough to loan you that card and you're not giving it back? But I suppose you've got a good reason. You always do." Mokuba gave me a hug.

I awkwardly gave him a small squeeze around the shoulders. I never have been comfortable with displays of affection, so I returned my attention to Mokuba's homework.]

. . .I didn't want my little brother to be ashamed of me. That would be more than I could bear.

By the time I had arrived at the museum, I was no further along in my thoughts. Irritated, I snapped to my chauffeur, "Wait here. I won't be long."

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba." With a sigh, she settled herself in for a wait. To her credit, she never complained, no matter how long I took at my various functions.

I marched purposefully into Domino Museum, wishing to complete my business as soon as possible. As focused on my duty as I was, I still noted the voices that were echoing through the structure's stone corridors.

Isn't this place supposed to be closed? I wondered. Actually, I was surprised that I had gotten into the place at all. I attentively listened to the conversation.

"There, take that piece over there. No, not that one! The one with the cat. Yes, that's it. That one will bring loads of money from a private collector. And that vase, the pale blue thing. Mmm, that's a lovely work of art."

Hmm, it looks like Ishizu's got some unexpected visitors, I thought. I turned to leave in search of a phone with which to call the police when a new voice froze me to the core.

"Stop right there," Ishizu's voice commanded. "You have no right to take those artefacts."

* * *

The thieves were so involved in their work that they didn't notice my soft footsteps. Suddenly I was so angry with them for attempting to rob me of my career and main interest in life that I stepped out from the concealing shadows.

"Stop right there. You have no right to take those artefacts." I put on my most forbidding look.

There were three of them. Two were anonymous thugs that I had never before seen, but the third. . .

"Miss Ishtar, what a surprise." The suited man returned my regard calmly.

"Mr Tanaka." My voice shook with betrayal. "How could you? You've helped me so much with this collection, cataloguing it, sorting through it, everything. . .and all this was just to familiarize yourself with my artefacts so you could steal them?"

"That's right." Tanaka was unmoved and not at all repentant. He examined a fingernail in a display of indifference.

"I trusted you!" I clenched my fists, trying to bring myself under control.

"That's the way of the world." He shrugged. "You can't rely on anyone. But I'm afraid I can't let you be witness to our little, shall we say. . .heist. That would destroy my careful plans. Joe, Shigeru--get her!"

I grimly settled myself into a fighter's stance and prepared to strike the oncoming thugs. Two against one odds do not make pleasant battles, but I was ready to defend myself until either they or I fell.

Then, to my total shock, a tall, lean figure launched itself from the nearby doorway to take down the green-haired criminal on the left.

Kaiba. . . . My dazed mind realized as I snap-kicked the other man's knee. He dropped in agony. It's Seto Kaiba! What in the name of Isis is he doing here? Who cares; I'm just glad he's here!

Kaiba, as always, efficiently took out his target. I, too, though not as quickly since I was hindered by my long flowing dress, rendered my victim unconscious. We turned to face the remaining thief. . .and halted where we stood. Tanaka was holding a gun and he was pointing it directly at Seto Kaiba's head.

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Aren't I just SOOOO evil? Isn't it great? This is revenge for all the cliffs from which my favourite authors have left me dangling. I'm taking it out on ~you~, my dear readers! Fear me! But don't let my nastiness stop you from clicking on that button down there--the one that says "Submit Review," okay? Good. I'll be back soon with more in this lovely saga! ^_^