Hmm, opinion's divided as to whether or not I'm evil. *smirks* Oh, I had too much fun with the last chapter. But now the problems are going to be resolved, so you can all relax. . .for now. Just to let you all know, this is the third-last chapter. Surprising, I know. I have everything all written; now I just need to post it at my leisure. Hope you like this chapter!

Reviewers. . .

Midnight Raven*Soaring Angel: Aw, you don't think I'm evil? Darn it! And, judging from that fic of yours I'm reading, I don't think I'd want to be anywhere within a fifty-kilometre radius of you when you're being evil. And you'll see about our heroes. . .

isis/seto fan: Love the name. And sorry if I'm confusing you. The first half of the chapter is always in Seto's POV and the second is Ishizu's viewpoint. Okay?

Ava: Sorry, I don't really do fluff very well. Besides, a) Kaiba and Ishizu don't seem overly fluffy and b) this is intended to be a fairly serious fic, for once. ^_^

ChildofMidnight: Happy belated birthday! Thanks for the compliment on my evilness. And I'll be sure to check out your fics. Although I might end up finally losing what remains of my sanity if you use lots of cliffies, too. Aaahh!

celes: Ah! More comments on my general malevolence. Wonderful. . . . *grins* And here's your update!

Kurai chan: I've always hated "damsel in distress" stuff. Blokes can get in trouble, too, ya know! So I reversed the roles, and made things slightly more equal. (To Kura: I don't think yamis get to pick their hikaris. Oh well, I'm sure you like her, deep down. Deep, deeeeeep down--kidding)

angelkohaku: Yes, Kaiba can be a jerk. A big one. I agree with you completely on this one. And I'm not really sure whether Kaiba ever gave back Obelisk the Tormentor. I can imagine that he wouldn't want to, but I also would think Ishizu would be pretty firm about getting it back. Any readers know? But, awww! You made me beam with that last remark. Thank you!

Ieyre: Why, thank you! MWAHAHA! Now you get to see whether Kaiba the Unbelievably Obstinate gets to meet his maker or not.

Charly (who I've decided to rename "the insane" - kidding again!) (x2): Work of art? Eee! *happy squeal* Abusing Kaiba is always a good way to get rid of stress.

Death makes you laugh? O_O "Hysterically," by the way, is spelled correctly. You know, your mum should allow you to watch anime. It's not dumb and it's not porn! # Hmmph.

Luna: But writing short chapters is more fun! You get more updates in that way, even if the content's puny. Are you an author here? If you are, I'll see if I have time to read one of your fics and review it like you've requested.

Minoizuri (x4): Congrats, you're the person with the most reviews in a row! I'm happy I convinced you what a good couple Kaiba and Ishizu make. I'm really surprised there aren't more fics out there about them. Thanks for dropping all those reviews!

Black Mistress: *cackles maliciously* Ahh, good ol' cliffhangers. Nothing better to rile up the readers. I'm glad you're so fond of this fic, and here's the MOREMOREMORE you requested! ^_~

mezu: Er. . .thank you?

YamiYugi's Pharaohess: Have you been talking to Black Mistress? Just a joke. I'm pleased you find this so interesting.

Lookit all the reviews! Over an entire page! I'm so happy! Thank you so much, everyone! You've made me so happy! Now why don't you go read what I've got? Thanks once again!

~ * * * ~

A lot of things go through a person's mind when they are confronted with death. My first thought was, I don't have time to die. There's too much left for me to do. Then I became angry. How dare that swine try to shoot me? I'd like to see him try! I considered what would happen to Mokuba if I weren't around. Would the Big Five take control of KaibaCorp through him? They would abuse him mercilessly, I realized, my wrath growing. Well, I'm not going to let that happen. Not while I'm still breathing. I left my thoughts and focused in on the enemy.

Tanaka was wearing an extremely unimpressed look on his face regarding the fate of his burglars. "Well, those two idiots were worse than useless." He shook his head angrily. "No matter, though. . .I can finish the job myself. Of course, witnesses would be a bit of a complication, so without further ado. . ." The man sighted down his arm directly at me. I prepared to spring for him in an attempt to bring him down before he could shoot me.

However, the eventuality never came. Soundlessly, Ishizu held her hands up to her Egyptian necklace. For a tiny particle of a second, golden light burned in the air. Then the room vanished.

When it materialized, I was leaning against a wall, still slightly crouched from my aborted attack. "What on earth did you do?" I interrogated. "More of that ridiculous hocus-pocus?"

Ishizu seemed to be biting back an amused smile. "I used a teleport spell. My brother taught it to me, in a way." She became serious once more. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take care of my colleague."

Rapidly, I moved over to her and caught her wrist. "You're not going. I am. He has a gun, you fool. You could be shot!"

Ishizu calmly stared at my fingers wrapped around her wrist until I removed them. Then she inquired softly, "So you're invincible to gunshot wounds? I never would have guessed. Kaiba, I can take care of myself. If something happens, I have the power of a Millennium Item to protect me, something you seem to lack."

Before I could react, she strode into the next room, where Tanaka was still searching for us. I raced around the corner to watch as the man swung around and levelled the gun at Ishizu. He seemed shaken.

"Wh--where did you. . .? How did you do that?" he queried, sweating.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Ishizu's hands circled the Millennium Necklace once again. A desert-coloured beam burst from the central Eye of Horus to knock the gun from Tanaka's grasp. It spun along the tiled floor. I darted in and snatched the weapon from the ground.

Tanaka didn't even notice. He was too preoccupied with staring at Ishizu. He was trembling.

"Unnatural female!" he cried hoarsely. "Witch!"

"Watch your tongue," I ordered him angrily, gesturing with the gun.

Ishizu gave a half-smile. "Mr. Tanaka, I'm sorry a man as intelligent as you appeared to be had to be so stupid. However, I'm not at all remorseful for what I'm about to do."

Without warning, she lunged at him, and, using a quick blow to his temple, effectively knocked him out.

Ishizu rubbed her hand and gazed at his lifeless body. She sighed, then looked up to meet my eyes. "Thank you for helping me, Kaiba. I'm not sure how this would have turned out if you hadn't happened to arrive."

I looked away. "Forget it." Then, unable to withhold my curiosity, I asked, "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Ishizu chuckled quietly. "I take self-defence courses once a week. It's amazing what they teach you. Now, Kaiba, why *did* you come, anyway?"

I couldn't answer for a moment. How could I say what was on my mind. . .? Then I heard the tramp of boots behind me. The police had arrived.

"I just wanted to say that you won't have that card forever," I responded abruptly, unable to speak the truth. "One day soon, it will be mine."

Ishizu gasped, furious. "You. . .you. . . ." Suddenly, she slapped me hard across my face. As I raised a hand to my cheek, startled, she wheeled around and stormed away.

As I answered the police's questions, over and over I mentally kicked myself. What had possessed me to say such a thing? I had planned on apologizing for my rudeness, and perhaps saying more, but I had only made the situation worse.

Go me, I thought sardonically. Now what am I going to tell Mokuba to explain the brand-new bruise on my cheek when I got home. . .?

* * *

Eventually, I had to return to answer the queries of the police. However, by the time an officer had tracked me down, Kaiba was long gone. I wasn't sure whether to be glad or disappointed. While I certainly didn't want to have to make uneasy conversation filled with hesitations, a part of me wished to see him just one more time.

Even if he now completely despises me, I thought. My lips quirked. How had I become so dependant upon him? I was a self-sufficient woman; I wasn't one of those air-headed, pathetic females who completely depended upon men for solace and approval. I was stronger than that. So why did I feel such a desperate need to run to Kaiba?

Fortunately for me, the police began questioning me and I was able to banish all thoughts of Seto Kaiba from my mind. I wasn't so lucky with my dreams, however. More than once I awoke, warm and blushing after dreams that I found too embarrassing to consider, even for a moment. It made for a troubled night's sleep, I can tell you.

The next day I spent doing the most boring yet mentally involving work I could find, trying without much success to distract myself from, once again, that pair of cold, crisp eyes. When the museum closed for the day, I found my attention drifting. The novel I was reading wasn't particularly fascinating, and I really didn't want to tackle that steadily growing pile of bills on the lamp table next to my favourite chair. Then my regard came home to roost on my computer.

"Oh, why not?" I sighed. I wasn't much for technology, but at least it was better than mooning over Kaiba.

I booted up the machine and accessed the Internet. Automatically, I typed in the URL of my favourite chat room. Then, tapping in my login name, "Isis of Egypt," and password, I searched about for a promising chamber.

At first, I held brief and rather uninteresting conversations with a few acquaintances. Then one of them mentioned a tidbit of news that was rather interesting. . .

Don't talk to BlueEyesDragon, the user warned me. They're so rude! Just asking to be sent a mail bomb--or worse.

Who's this "BlueEyesDragon"? I typed back hurriedly. If it was the person I thought it was. . .

I dunno, came the reply. They're a newbie. They joined recently and have been totally tearing into people for no apparent reason.

I'll avoid them if at all possible, I responded. Thanks for the caution.

For a moment, I sat back in my chair, considering. The chances were one in a million. And yet, with that screen name--and personality, I thought with a grin. Let's just see if I'm right. . .

I decided to lurk for a while, to see exactly how this "BlueEyesDragon" was alienating the members of the chat room. After reading a few conversations, I could see why everyone was staying away from them in droves. I had arrived just in time to observe one poor thing who obviously hadn't heard of BlueEyesDragon's reputation. BlueEyesDragon ripped into them, going for their soul. They were rude, sarcastic, cutting their victim to their very essence.

Quickly, BlueEyesDragon's prey fled, broken. Noting the user name of the abused person, I resolved to comfort them as best I could. . .later. Right now, I had business to which I needed to attend.

Hello, BlueEyesDragon, I typed simply.

Not another mindless Internet zombie, came the bitter reply. What do you want from me? Make it quick; I don't want to have to listen to meaningless babble any longer than I have to.

Off screen, I shook my head, smiling wryly. If that wasn't confirmation that BlueEyesDragon was indeed Seto Kaiba, nothing was.

During my hesitation, BlueEyesDragon added more to his response. What's the matter? Has your mind totally evaporated from sitting at a computer for twenty-three hours of the day? I don't know why, but I had expected more from somebody with a name slightly more intelligent than 'Frodozgurl932.'

I was taking my time with my response, I answered. And I'm pleased you like my name--even if it's only a little. I've always been fascinated with ancient Egypt.

You sound like one of my friends. She's an Egyptologist. She believes in all sorts of nonsense about the ancients. There was a slight pause. But other than that, she's a pretty great woman.

What's she like? I tapped out hurriedly. My heart had given a leap upon hearing--or seeing, rather--perhaps my first compliment ever from Seto Kaiba.

Well. . .

I leaned forwards in my seat, anxiously anticipating the response.

~ * * * ~

That's it from me. Just two end notes: one, if I made any errors about the function of a chat room, blame it on me. I don't visit chat rooms, but I thought the format would work better than the slower message board. And two, I don't know anybody called "Frodozgurl932." If there is somebody out there with that s/n, you have my apologies. I was having trouble thinking up a good nickname, since I don't think they'd use the Yu-Gi-Oh chaps' names, and "Legolazgurl932" didn't look right (since I know he has more fangirls than poor ol' Frodo). So apologies if there really ~is~ somebody with that name out there.

That's all until next time! Don't forget to make me happy and review!