Disclaimer: You should know by now that I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh

Chapter Three – Millennium Items Hold Trust

Yugi led Serena to one of the parks nearby and the two of them sat down on a bench and faced each other. They were both interested in what the other had to say about their millennium item.

"I don't know much about the millennium items, except from my dreams. In my dreams, a man who called himself Shadi would sometimes come and speak to me and tell me about the different millennium items; mainly, he spoke about mine. He told me I was destined to have it. But he also told me of the millennium eye because it is the one my uncle has, and the millennium puzzle," Serena began, slowly opening her heart up. "After my mother's death, I had a hard time trusting people, and I still do. It takes a lot to have me trust in someone, but I know I can trust you Yugi, and Téa and everyone else you've introduced me to. In my most recent dream, Shadi told me the bearer of the millennium puzzle would be the first person I would learn to trust here in Domino City. I didn't place it until a little while ago, but I finally recognized your item as the millennium puzzle."

Yugi smiled at her. This sounds sort of familiar Yami. Shadi came to me in a dream and told me about a girl with a dark past and how she would learn to trust in me and my friends. "What does your item do?" he asked, unsure of what to call it.

Serena laughed gently. "It's called the millennium ruby necklace. If it's sought after for any reason, it's more than likely for the ruby. And as for what it does, earlier, you were thinking I thought you all were a bunch of nuts, which I don't."

Yami! She can read my mind…"So, you can read minds then," he stated matter-of-factly, knowing very well she knew his thought.

"Yes…but earlier, that was a complete accident. I only use it when absolutely necessary…or when I truly want to know what someone thinks…well, and sometimes it does it on its own. But, it really isn't my place to pry into people's minds, and I don't use it when dueling either. So tell me about your millennium puzzle."

Yugi began from the beginning, his story longer than Serena's. Every little detail caught her attention: from the time when he put the puzzle together, to the time when he first learned the spirit's name, to how it helps him in dueling.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto Kaiba sat at his desk, his eyes never leaving the computer screen. His life had become duel monsters and technology, but he never forgot his younger brother. He was scanning through the list of duelists who would be competing in the upcoming Battle City Tournament, when his eyes suddenly stopped on one name in particular; one he recognized slightly. "Mokuba!" he yelled for his brother, his eyes still on the screen as he opened up the file on the duelist.

"Yeah Seto?" Mokuba asked as he popped his head in his older brother's office.

"What is this?" Kaiba asked; his voice cold with anger.

"It's a profile on a duelist?"

"Who approved her?"

Mokuba walked in the room and looked at the name. "Serena Pegasus" it read on the top in big bold letters. Her picture was below it on the right hand side; she was blonde haired with mysterious blue eyes. Her credentials were opposite the side of her picture, as well as her age, her birth date, and why she believed she should be allowed to duel in the tournament.

"I guess I did Seto, why?"

"Why Mokuba? Did you read her last name?" Kaiba asked; his voice still cold.

Mokuba looked at it again. "Pegasus," he read aloud. For a moment, his mind drew a blank, until he remembered Maximillion Pegasus and how he had tried to overtake KaibaCorp. "I'm sorry Seto. I don't remember every duelist I approved, but her credentials must have been good. We don't approve by name, remember?" Mokuba said, instantly defending himself.

We could have made one exception to the rule, his brain mumbled, but instead of speaking his thoughts, he excused his brother and scanned her duelist recommendation that had been sent in with her packet.

"…Serena is the daughter of Celeste Pegasus (deceased) and the niece of Maximillion Pegasus…She is an amazing duelist from what I have witnessed throughout the past few years. She shows great qualities and never boasts about being the top duelist in her school…One of her dreams, she claims, is to duel Seto Kaiba, the host of the Battle City tournaments and one of the greatest duelists in the world…She believes she will accomplish this dream by making it to the Battle City finals…"

Kaiba stopped and laughed mockingly. Oh she'll duel me, I'll make sure of that, he thought sardonically, but she won't win.

Kaiba stood up and looked once more at the address listed for Serena. He would find her and get more information from her. If she was anything like her uncle, she was after his company. "Mokuba, I'm going out," he said as he passed the room his brother was in. He glanced in quickly as he saw cards spread out on the floor. It was obvious his brother was coming up with strategies for his first Battle City tournament.

~*~*~*~*~

An hour had passed, and Yugi had just finished his story on his millennium puzzle. As he finished, he noticed Serena's eyes looked deep in thought, so he sat there, quietly waiting for her to say something.

"I could have just read your mind and saved you a lot of breath," she said momentarily, her eyes suddenly teasing.

"But wouldn't it look strange to have two teens staring at each other and not saying a word, especially since one of them is a girl and girls are known to talk a lot," Yugi joked back.

Serena laughed softly as she focused her eyes back on Yugi. "If they were watching us, they would think otherwise. Yugi…can I tell you something?" Serena said quietly, her eyes darkening from sadness.

"What is it Serena?" He asked, worried for his new friend.

"I've never told anyone this before; I've tried so hard to block it from my memory. I suppose part or my reason was that I've found it hard to trust people, but I feel like I can easily trust you. Yugi…my mother didn't just die…she was…" Serena stopped and lowered her voice considerably. "My mother was murdered," she said in a hoarse whisper.

"Serena…" he said, his mind at a loss for words.

Another hour passed as Serena told Yugi more in depth details of her mother's death, conveniently forgetting to mention the scar that was hidden on her neck and that she had heard the gunshot in the night. It was too painful for her to say aloud, too painful to even think.

"Please don't tell anyone Yugi…" she said, crystal teardrops slowly ending their descent down her face.

"I won't Serena, I promise," he replied, giving her a small smile. Yami?

I don't know what to say Yugi, she's leaving something out, but don't press her for it. It seems it was hard enough for her to tell you this much.

I know Yami. "Come on; let's go back to the game shop. I'll give you a practice duel," Yugi said, hoping to lighten the mood. It did.

"Alright Yugi, but I know you have some real good cards, so go easy on me," Serena said lightheartedly.

"Being Pegasus' niece, I'd think you'd have all the good cards." The two of them laughed at this and made their way back to the game shop.

As they neared the game shop, a tall teen with dark azure eyes and short russet hair bumped into Serena. He mumbled an apology and would have continued walking on, had he not seen the boy she was with. "Yugi," he acknowledged.

"Hey Kaiba," he said quietly. After Yugi had freed Mokuba's soul, saved Kaiba from his virtual reality game, and fought selflessly to free Joey's mind, Kaiba had respected Yugi more, but was still cold-hearted and self-centered, except when it came to Mokuba; and he still had a self-dependant attitude.

"You," he said; his voice cold with anger, as he acknowledged Serena.

Serena didn't have to ask, she could read his mind. He was angry his brother had approved her to duel in the Battle City Tournament, angry that she was related to Pegasus. She read deeper into his mind. It wasn't merely because she was related to Pegasus, but because Kaiba still held the anger in his heart of those many years ago when her uncle had tried to overtake KaibaCorp and had placed Mokuba's soul within a card. He was angry at her for crimes she did not commit.