Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh, but I do own all OC characters in my story...

Chapter 9 - Dreams and Confessions

She hugged her doll tightly while walking around lost in the desert sands. She had only gone to play with a small lizard she saw, the next thing she knew her mommy and daddy were no where to be found. Panic was beginning to cross her mind, and she began to cry. Still nothing. No one was there. Mommy wasn't there to comfort her. Daddy wasn't there to hug her tight. It was just silence and being only six years old, it was the scariest thing in the world.

Suddenly a man appeared out of nowhere, with a silent stealthy motion. His skin was darkly tanned and he wore a white turban on his head. His expression was gentle and calming. "Are you lost little princess?" he asked.

The little girl looked up to him and nodded. Tears were rolling down her face. "Mommy and Daddy" she softly cried.

"Come with me. I will take you back to your mother and father." he said holding out his hand.

She held back for a moment, gripping onto her doll. "Mommy says I should never go with strangers."

"Do not worry, I will not harm you." he held out his hand again. "Do you want to see magic?" he asked with a small smile.

"Okay!" she said. Completely forgetting her mother's important rule about strangers. He took her small hand and they began to walk in one direction.

"Now touch my Millennium Ankh" He revealed the item around his neck and showed it to her.

"It's so pretty" she said hypnotized by the shiny gold object. She reached out her hand and touched it. Suddenly a swirl of colors emerged from the item, wrapping it's ribbons of gold light around them both. Everything that surrounded them began to dance and twinkle. "Wow!" she said excitedly, not even remotely afraid. Then the light was gone and they were at the excavation site. She could hear her mother calling her name.

"Cool!" she said amazed. "I wish I have your shiny gold necklace." she said smiling, her tears were all gone by now.

"When the time comes you will get your very own, little princess." the man said with a smile.

"Vari!" her mother called out from a distance.

"Mommy!" she called back, waving her arms. Her mother saw her and quickly ran towards her.

"Vari! Your father and I were looking all over for you! You know you shouldn't wander off like that!" her mother scold.

"Mommy, Mommy! There was a funny looking man and he can do magic! See he's right over there." she said pointing her finger from behind.

"What man?" her mother asked. "There's no one there dear."

Vari turned around, he was no where to be seen. "But I saw him! He had a pretty gold necklace and..."

"You have quite the imagination missy, there's no one here. Come, let's get you back to camp." Her mother took her hand and lead her away. But Vari was still convince that it was real.

Her eyes opened slowly. It was still dark outside her window. She read the clock next to her, 3:00 A.M. She groaned a little and stared up at the ceiling laying flat on her bed with no movement at all. A strange dream. She has been having them frequently but the strange thing was that it was mostly about Egypt. Why? you ask? Will there was no answer because Vari didn't know why. Maybe because she missed it for a while, after trying to adjust to life here in Domino City, or maybe because her father talks non- stop about his research, that it was beginning to go right to her head. But there could be a million reasons such as these. They were just dreams nothing more and nothing less. Vari closed her eyes drifting back into sleep once again.

*****

"Only 3 more days till the preliminary!" Joey announced. "I can't wait! I'm going to wipe the floor off of everybody!"

"Nice to see your confidence Joey" Yugi said. They were all sitting at the lunch table and this time Bakura joined them. He gave a small smile. It seemed like Vari was the only one that notice how strange Bakura was. From time to time he would ask her an awful lot about Egypt and about her father's research, not that she mind, it was just the look he gave her sometimes that made her feel uneasy.

"Does Bakura seem a little strange to you?" Vari whispered to Tea.

"Bakura? No...I don' think so..." She looked at Vari with a frown. "He's the most normal guy here. Well...compared to those two." she said pointing at Joey and Tristen, who were, as usual, bickering about who gets the last of Yugi's sandwich.

Vari laughed at the both of them. "I guess I'm just hallucinating about things" Vari reasoned, but she couldn't shake the feeling she had about Bakura. One minute he had a nice smile on his face, the next she notice it turned into a wicked grin. She just shrugged it off and turned her head to the opposite side of the cafeteria. There she saw Kaiba sitting and reading quietly to himself. Vari smiled a little and kept on staring. She didn't notice a hand waving in the front of her face.

"Earth to Vari!" Tristen said.

Vari blinked and pulled herself back from her trance. She turned and focused her attention back to her friends.

"What were you staring at?" Tristen asked, trying to peek over her shoulder.

"Oh, nothing..." Vari said quickly. "I was just thinking about the math test tomorrow. I have to do well or else."

"Don't worry, you will." Tristen said reassuringly. "You got Kaiba as a tutor. I still don't know how you manage that...but I have to admit he's the best at the subject."

"I guess..."

"Eh...Kaiba's just a know it all showoff. He barely even pays attention in class, believe me I know. I have Bio with him unfortunately." Joey said.

"Then why is it that he got the answers right and you didn't?" Tea teased.

"Hey! I still think the teacher gave me a trick question!" Joey argued.

"Okay...Tell me what is Mitosis?"

"Uh..." Joey thought.

"The process of cell division." Yugi answered for him.

"Uh...yea I knew that..." said Joey.

"Yeah right..." Tea giggled.

"Um...Tea can I talk to you for a moment?" Vari asked.

"Sure."

"In private" Vari said. Hinting at the boys sitting next to them.

"Okay. Girl talk, no guys allowed." Tea said to the boys with a grin.

"They're probably talk about us guys." Joey muttered. Yugi just laughed.

The two went to a secluded area, away from prying eyes that might overhear their conversation. "What's up?" Tea asked.

Vari looked away for a moment she felt like she was going to explode if she didn't tell someone soon. "What do you think of Kaiba?" she asked slowly.

Tea looked at her confused. "Well..." she gathered her words carefully. "He's not the most pleasant person to be around with. Why do you ask? He's not giving you a hard time is he?"

"No!" Vari said quickly. "It's not that..."

"Then what's wrong?"

"It's...It's just that..." Should she tell her? She pause for a second, trying to gather the words. "I think I have a crush on him" she mumbled, barley audible, but Tea heard it quite clearly.

"You have a crush on Kaiba!?" Tea exclaimed.

"Shhh! Tell the whole world why don't you."

"Sorry, it was just surprising that's all." Tea apologized. She glanced at Kaiba then back at Vari. "When did this happen?" she asked eagerly.

"I think ever since the Charity Ball."

"No offence or anything, but may I ask why you like him?"

"He's...different...and the weird thing is I don't feel repulsed by him."

"Well that's something new..." Tea said. "Does...Does he know?"

Vari shook her head.

"Well do you think he feels the same way?"

"I don't know Tea. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't, but..."

"But?"

"He did act strange yesterday, when I went over to his house."

"What are you going to do? Keep it bottled up?"

"I don't know." In truth Vari never actually thought about that. She was hoping it would go away but it didn't and it bothered her. "You're not mad are you?"

Tea looked at her curiously "Why would I be mad?"

"Because I actually like an arrogant guy like Kaiba."

"In truth, I'm surprised, but whatever your decision is I'll stick by you."

"Thank you! You're the best friend a girl could ask for."

"That's my job." Tea grinned. "But uh...I wouldn't want to mention this to Joey. I think he'll explode."

"Gotcha." Vari said. She couldn't be more relieved after getting it out in the open. The two girls walked back to the table.

Seto looked up from the book he was reading, he didn't know why but he had that feeling you get when you know someone is watching you. He turned his head around. No one was looking directly at him, he frowned and went back to reading, before he did, he notice Vari and her pitiable little group of friends sitting together and chatting. He didn't know why but he had a sneaking suspicion that it was her.

*****

That pleasant afternoon Vari was at Seto's mansion yet again for their usual schedule tutoring.

"And the Quadratic Formula is..."

"X equals to B, plus and minus, radical B square minus 4 times A and C over two A."

"Finally..." he muttered.

"I think that's the last of the questions." Vari said giving a small sigh of relief. "I finally got it." she said happily. She leaned back a little, giving a stretch. After memorizing equation after equation, her brain was actually starting to pound.

Seto looked at her with a pondering face. "It was you wasn't it?"

Vari gave a puzzled look. "What?"

"You were the one looking at me during lunch."

Vari couldn't help but blush like a pathetic little school girl. By the look on her face, Seto knew he was right. "Was it that obvious?" she asked embarrassed.

"No, I have keen sense on these things."

Vari bit her lip, it wasn't like her to get all girlish but the pit of her stomach was turning inside out. "I have a confession to make..."

"What?" he asked.

"I...I...um.." "Just say it!" she thought to herself. "Say it!" her brain yelled. "I like you!" she blurted out.

Seto didn't react to this, in fact he had no emotion at all, like he was expecting it. Vari waited for him to say something. But he face grew and he suddenly began laughing with an insane triumph look.

"You really think you had me fooled didn't you?"

"What?" Vari stood completely confused.

"Your, plot, your scheming, I bet you had it perfecally planned."

"What are you talking about Seto?" she asked.

"You really think I would fall for that? A coincidence that you had me to be your tutor. You knew Mr. Hiraku would go along with it." He said to her.

"I still don't know what you're talking about" said Vari.

"Don't lie to me. I know what you're after. You're after my money!"

"What!?" Vari exclaimed. "That's not it at all!"

"Please! You know how many women swarm over me because of that? I've seen it before. Like vultures just looking for a new carcass.

Vari's face flashed with outrage. "What makes you think that I would be one of them!?"

"You're all the same." he said cruelly.

Vari looked at him with intense anger. "And to think I actually fell for you! You stubborn, pompous, egotistical, moron! I can't believe you!" she shouted.

"Believe it!" he snapped back at her.

Vari quickly grabbed her bag and began to shove all her things in quickly. "I'm going! I don't think I can stand anymore of your false accusations!" she exclaimed. She turned towards to door and stomped out of the room. Mokuba was there in the stairway, he could hear the argument all the way from upstairs. Coming down he saw Vari with an infuriated look on her face.

"Vari? What's going on? Are you leaving?"

"Oh Mokuba..." Vari just noticed Mokuba there, and him seeing her like this was even more discomforting. "I'm sorry Mokuba but I have to go...." she said quietly.

"Why?" he asked, still unaware of the situation. Before Vari could answer the study room door opened revealing Seto.

"Are you still here?" he said retorted.

"I was just leaving" she said hotly. "I have to go Mokuba...I wouldn't want to stand in the way of your brother." she snapped sarcastically at Seto. She walked out hastily.

"What was all that about?" Mokuba asked his brother, but Seto didn't answer. He stormed upstairs to his room and slammed the door hard. It was the only room his had left in this god forsaken house. The only room where he can truly have his privacy. It was his shelter and his place for contentment.

"Stupid girl!" he muttered to himself angrily. "I'm not a fool, she thinks she can slip past me for my bank account, she's got another thing coming." He paced around, but he couldn't shake the anger that was churning inside of him. His body grew weary from frustration and he plopped down onto his bed. There he saw the dreamcatcher Vari gave him, dangling above his head. His face twisted with revulsion. He grabbed the dreamcatcher and threw it across the room, which flew all the way to the other end smashing into pieces as it hit against the wall. "Piece of junk" he mumbled angrily. His headache was pulsating in his brain. He closed his eyes, as if it would help stop the throbbing. He didn't notice that he fell asleep instantly when he did.

He found his body laying flat on some cold solid marble. He felt unconscious and his eyes disobeyed his command to open. He just laid there silent and motionless. A rushing wind blew past him. It was so cold that his whole form shivered instinctively.

"Wake up..."

He thought his mind was playing tricks on him but he could have sworn he heard a voice. But he just ignored it, he didn't want to wake up from his sleep.

"Wake up..." the voice softly whispered.

"Alright!" he grumbled. His tired body slowly getting up on his feet. He stood shocked by the scenery he saw. It was dark empty space. The same place that was in his dreams before.

"Not this again!" he cried out. There was no way out, nowhere to run, even if he tried it was just infinite empty space that could go on forever. He sensed a presence, turning around his eyes caught a figure standing right in front of him. The same cloaked women, who haunted his dreams earlier with her piercing turquoise eyes glazing with intensity. She had a heavenly radiance as well as a dark aura. He didn't know whether to be alarmed or mesmerized.

"Why do you fear emotion?" she asked softly. She almost sounded like the wind.

"Emotion is weakness." he said harshly. "I learned that a long time ago."

"Don't fear the past, only fear the future." she warned. "The sand begins to pour on you and you will have to face your destiny." she whispered under her veiled face.

He stood confused. "What are you talking about?" he demanded. But her image began to fade away. He heard taps echoing in his brain.

KNOCK...KNOCK....

Seto woke, almost falling over his bed as his body jerked awake. The taps were coming from his door.

"Seto?" a voice said. Seto knew immediately it was Mokuba. "Seto are you alright?"

He grumbled slightly as he got up to open the door. Mokuba stood there with a look of concern etched on his face.

"Seto! Are you alright?" Mokuba asked again. "You missed dinner."

"I did?" Seto asked, not knowing what time it was, he glance at the clock on the table, it read 9:00 P.M.

"I didn't want to disturb you. But I was worried."

"I'm fine Mokuba, you don't have to worry about me." he said reassuringly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No" He said automatically. He doubt that he can talk about "girl troubles" with his little brother.

"Well...the butler left some dinner if you're hungry."

"I'll be down in a sec."

"Okay." Mokuba said. He began walking off to his room, but stopped and said with a sigh "Big brother, you should follow what you feel is in your heart." and with that he left.

Seto just remained standing there for a while. He felt something under his shoe. Looking down he picked up a piece of the broken dreamcatcher on the floor. Mokuba's words repeated in his mind. "Follow what you feel is in your heart." he said. "I doubt if I even have a heart." he thought. It was at that moment he realized what he had done. And for the first time he realized the feeling of guilt, shame, and regret.

*****

The warehouse had a misty smell, partially because they were near water and partially because there was the feel of cold darkness. He was seated on a throne which was not lavishly made, but it still held a sense of dominance and superiority. His servants were knelt low on the ground, as if they were worshiping a god. Their eyes looked dazed and hypnotized and their forehead glowed with a strange third eye looking like a sacred symbol. Two servants stood next to their master on each side. You can tell that they were one of top status. He turned to one of them.

"Have you sent the letter?"

"Yes, my master" he said with a nod.

"Good. And have you received any new information?"

The servant faltered a little in his speech. He hesitated to say anything.

"Tell me. You cannot resist, for I control you. I can make you tell me willingly or not." he sneered maliciously.

The servant tried to mustered enough courage. It was to tell him or let his mind be controlled again, which either way he would still suffer the consequences. His voice was faded. "No I could not. I was caught before I had a chance to get the files."

"Dimwitted fool." his master said enraged by his poor lack of service.

"Please forgive me, master!" he cried out all of a sudden. He knew what was coming next.

"I do not forgive easily. And I do not forgive what one has failed at. You will suffer pain for your idiocy!"

The servant started to scream. He began clawing at himself and rolling on the floor. "I'm on fire!" he shrieked, but there was no fire. Nothing was on him. It was as if he had gone insane. Yet he still rolled around, twisting and patting on his robes to try and smother the invisible fire.

"The mind easily plays tricks on you." his master sneered with sickening amusement as he watched him scream. The other servants just watched with no emotion at all. With a wave of his gold rod. The man suddenly stopped and blinked, looking at his robes, which were fine. His skin didn't burn nor did his robes turn to ash.

The master made no distress over the matter. "We have made the first move. That is all they should know."

A/N: This was the longest chapter to write! I tried to take a bigger step in my writing. I wanted to go more in depth and more detailed. I hope it's good. You can tell me the truth, I don't mind, critique it all you want. Comments, Questions, etc... This chapter was basically another Seto/Vari thing. But I don't want to put them together just yet. I feel that it needs to take time and grow, not something in a rush. And you know Seto is stubborn as hell! I love writing his personality because to me he has a dark and arrogant personality, but it's hard not to pity him with his life. So I'm still having fun with this. *evil grin* hehehe... I hope I didn't go overboard with the evil master (which I know you can guess who he is by now) I wanted to make it really dark. And after reading Harry Potter for the second time I kinda based it on Lord Voldemort. ^_^

OK that's enough with my blabbering. I'll leave you to R/R! ^_^ I want at least 6 reviews before I can post the next chapter. If you guys want I can send an email on the next chapter. And a thanks to my loyal readers. You've made writing even more fun for me.