NOTE: There are only two more chapters after this one. Be forewarned ^_^

Chapter Twenty-Three – A New Turn

"Any last words Seto Kaiba, for this move shall be your last," Jared stated, his eyes dark and cold, his words cynical and full of hatred.

Kaiba ignored him and slowly drew his card, a glimmer of hope shining in his heart. With this card...I can draw three cards and discard two. But is the card I need within the next three? Kaiba looked across the field at his opponent, and swiftly placed his card onto the field face down, for later in his turn.

"I flip Magician of Faith into attack mode, activating her special ability! And the magic card I choose from my graveyard is...Rageki!" he yelled out, watching Jared's monster become nothing more than bits of data.

"Your monster still does not possess enough strength to destroy my life points. And after your pitiful little move, I will destroy you and Serena!" Jared retorted, not at all phased by Kaiba's move.

"And now I activate, Graceful Charity," Kaiba said coolly, flipping the card he had placed not too long ago on the field and preparing to draw three cards. I need that card to destroy him...but is this such a safe thing...placing my trust into my deck?

"Are you really that foolish and stupid to risk Serena's life on the simple draw of a card? Honestly Seto Kaiba, I thought you possessed more sense than that," Jared taunted, his voice eerie in the seeming to grow darkness.

"Don't listen to him Seto! Trust your deck!" Serena yelled up to him, grasping tightly to Yami's arm.

Kaiba's eyes flashed and filled with fire as they burned into Jared's soul...if he even had one. "I'm choosing to trust in my deck to give me the card I need to defeat you! I love Serena and I will not lose!"

"Love is for the weak!"

"You're wrong," Kaiba replied, shaking his head sadly. "I've finally learned that love is how the strong survive." He swiftly drew three cards and quickly glanced at them. It can't be! his mind yelled out, his eyes somewhat widening. The card I need!

"I play Monster Reborn! And I bring back the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" he said rather calmly, every word iced over with fire. His smirk returning to his face as his three headed dragon appeared before him. "Blue Eyes, attack his life points directly!"

A gentle smile appeared on Serena's face and her grip eased up on Yami's arm as she watched the life point reader for Jared reach zero. "I knew you could do it Seto!" she yelled out as he descended from the platform and took her into his arms, the darkness surrounding them slowly fading into the light of the Domino Harbor.

"No, this can't be...I, Jared, ruler and master of Blood of Darkness has...failed..." Jared muttered to himself, unable to move from his spot.

Upon hearing his mumbling, Serena's eyes glazed over with fire as she turned to her "Father." "Light cannot stoop to the levels of darkness, so therefore, I cannot kill you. But your fate rests in my hands, and do not think I will go easy on you," she began, her necklace glowing brightly and the eye of Horus appearing upon her forehead. "It has been my destiny since five millennia ago to destroy you, and with the help of Seto Kaiba, Yami, and Serena Pegasus, I have achieved my destiny."

"Who are you?" Jared questioned, his eyes growing wide in horror.

"I am the spirit of the Millennium Ruby Necklace, and I will finally be able to rest in peace and harmony, knowing that I have finally brought your reign of darkness to an end. Five millennia ago, and before that, it was my sworn duty to defeat Blood of Darkness, but I failed, and so I sealed myself away within this necklace, knowing that one day, the prophecies would come true, and I, in the form of Serena, would defeat the ever growing darkness, and restore the balance of light overweighing darkness.

"I have sat in slumber, awaiting the moment when love would awaken me, and bring me out of the ruby and to the world again; the moment when my powers would arise and I would be needed to destroy you," the spirit who had taken residence in Serena's body spoke calmly, her eyes never leaving Jared's.

Yami watched in utter amazement as Serena ascended a few feet above the ground and glared down at Jared. He stifled a chuckle at Kaiba's face, full of astonishment and wonder.

"I sentence you to the Realm of Darkness, where you will wander the labyrinth for all eternity, never finding any form of light, never being able to break free. Blood of Darkness is no more!" Serena, or rather, the spirit of her necklace, stretched out her arm, her hand opened up, and closed her eyes as a bright light emerged from it, engulfing Jared and Mitch into it without making a sound.

"The servants of Blood of Darkness have been freed and will return to their lives and their families. I am now able to slumber in peace, knowing I have fulfilled my destiny. Serena will not remember much of this, if any, except for the duel and the knowledge that her...father has been destroyed. Seto Kaiba," she called out, her eyes narrowing on him, "I have been watching you, and if ever a time comes where I must emerge from my slumber again, due to your lack of human qualities, I will not hesitate to do so. Take care of her, for although she is strong willed, her past has caused her heart to be frail." With those departing words, the spirit sank back into the necklace, releasing Serena to her body.

"Seto," she whispered quietly, smiling at him as he lifted her up into his arms and cradled her. "I knew you could do it…thank you." Tears welled up in Serena's eyes as two realities hit her. One – she was safe from the evil which had been chasing her, her whole life; and which had killed her mother. And two – she had lost the father she had never known.

"For what?" he asked, slightly amused as he followed Yami, who had become Yugi, to the game shop.

"For saving me...and taking the risk. I want you to know that I, I lo..." Serena's voice trailed off, as slumber overtook her body, dragging her into a world of peaceful and calm dreams.

~*~*~*~*~

Serena's mouth opened and a yawn escaped through her lips. Slowly and groggily, her eye lids lifted, revealing her room in Téa's apartment. Was that all just a terrible nightmare?

Blinking a few times to adjust to the light in her room, Serena sat up and stretched, glancing quickly at her clock. It was already one-twenty in the afternoon. As Serena was about to stand, the door to her room burst open.

"You're awake," Kaiba stated, placing himself beside her on her bed.

Serena didn't say anything, just slightly nodded her head, which had begun to hurt immensely. If this is what a hangover feels like, I'm never going to drink one sip of alcohol.

"Are you ok?" Kaiba turned his body to face hers and lifted her chin, meeting her eyes with his.

"I'm…fine Seto," was all she said, before gently closing her eyes.

"Good. Come," he commanded, standing and pulling her to her feet.

"I'd rather not. My head feels like a ton of bricks."

"You just said you were fine."

"You never specified what fine meant. Fine as in emotionally; fine as in physically; or fine as in I slept well," she countered emotionlessly.

"Stay here," he commanded once more and left the room, only to return a few minutes later with a glass of water and a couple advil.

"Thanks," Serena mumbled, swallowing the pills.

"Let's go."

"Wait, Seto…I…"

"What is it?" Kaiba questioned, facing her, raising a brow in question.

"I don't remember much after you beat Jared. It all seems like a terrible nightmare. As much as he was evil…he still was my father…by blood. Did another spirit really…take over my body?"

Kaiba smirked slightly at Serena's innocence. Sixteen, close to seventeen, seeing all she has of the world, and yet still as innocent as a child. "It was all real Serena," he said coolly, pulling her along with him. "We'll talk about it later," he whispered over his shoulder, bringing her outside with him.

"Where are we going?" she asked confused, as Kaiba opened the door to the limo and motioned for her to get inside.

"You'll find out soon enough," he said quietly, his voice that of a calm and gentle river.

As he sat beside Serena, he pulled her into the safety of his arms, thankful the events of the previous night were over, and she was alright. But, he wasn't completely the one who had saved her. True, he had dueled, but the card he used was not his own.

If it wasn't for Yugi and his Graceful Charity…I would never have saved Serena. Graceful Charity…just like Yugi. Kaiba chuckled and kissed Serena's head, noticing she had probably fallen asleep again. That spirit certainly made her tired.

"Sleep my angel of light," Kaiba whispered faintly, placing one more gentle kiss atop Serena's head. I love you.

A/N: Um…I know it's um…short. But umm…I erm, well…it leads into the next chapter, which I'm not giving much away but let's just say it's umm…well…it's been like…two weeks since I wrote this chapter so umm…heh oops? O_o;;

Marik (mumbling): Incompetent fool.

Heh…*sweatdrops*