What's wrong with me? Daphne wondered as she picked up her books slowly. The bell had rung for lunch and everyone had left, but she was in no hurry to head for the cafeteria. From the corner of her eyes, she could see her cousin, standing protectively beside her, waiting to walk her down to the lunchroom. Just before Yugi fell out of his chair, I could almost…almost feel that feeling. That feeling that I haven't felt since…since I don't know when.

"You okay?" Her cousin's deep throaty voice was rough, but Daphne could detect a fondness underneath it. "Have I embarrassed you in front of the whole class? I meant every word I said, you know." He added, almost playfully.

"I'm fine." She answered almost automatically. She was still thinking, thinking about that surge of…of something that had flowed through her veins…like a surge of energy. Except it wasn't energy. It was something that made her heart throb for…for what, she doesn't know.

"Come on," Kaiba complained, looking at his watch. "I'm hungry."

"Coming." She gathered up the rest of her stuff and followed the tall teen to the cafeteria. She stopped at the entrance as she suddenly remembered the lunch date she had made with Téa and her friends.

"Seto, I just remembered something." Kaiba turned around and impatiently tapped his shoes on the floor. "I promised I'd eat lunch with Téa." Kaiba stared back at her, wondering if she as kidding, then shrugged and whirled around, stalking off in the opposite direction.

"See ya later, then."

"Wait," she started, but Kaiba had disappeared into the crowd. Was that jealousy in her cousin's voice? She frowned, then decided not to worry about it. She looked around the large lunch hall and spotted Yugi and his friends sitting at a table in the far corner. She began to weave her way to the table, but was blocked by three bulky guys within ten feet from the entry. She looked up. The one in the center grinned nastily.

"Hey, Sweetheart, going somewhere?" He moved closer. Uncomfortably closer. Daphne took a step back.

"Yes, I'm joining my friends for luncheon and I'm already late, so if you'll please excuse me." She said in a low, smooth tone. She was late and she's not accustomed to being late.

"Aw, that's too bad," the same guy drawled. "I only wanted a kiss." He advanced again and Daphne backed up until she found that she was pressed tightly against the wall. She looked around nervously. Kaiba had mentioned that American guys were bold, but isn't this a little too bold? People were milling everywhere, but they were engaged with their own entertainment. Nobody was paying any attention to what was happening in her corner. She gritted her teeth and held a still British upper lip.

"What's the matter? Don't you like us? We like you." A second guy came up and planted his wrists on each side of her head to keep her in place. "Is the queen of Egypt scared?" His breath was warm against her ear. Daphne's heart stopped.

"What?" She whispered. That sounded…so familiar. So…cold yet warm at the same time. A heave of aching grasped her heart so tightly that she closed her eyes. A crystal tear seeped from under her eyelid. Why? Where did the pain come from? Never had she ever felt such pain from her heart. The ache within her was so real that she was certain it would ooze through her skin.

"Look," the third one jeered. "The princess is crying." Another jarring pain made Daphne gasp.

"We'll make it all better." The first one soothed and gave the others a wicked grin. Daphne took no notice of any of this. This feeling…this emotion…the memory of this feeling, where is it coming from? The guys came closer and Daphne could feel one arm snake around her waist. She wanted to open her eyes and shove him away, she wanted to stop all of this. But the memories caught and held fast onto her as if they were controlling her mind and her very soul.

She could feel the warm breaths coming closer and closer as a hand caressed her back. Her heart thudded but she felt as if she was in a nightmare, when she could only watch from her mind's eye, but could do nothing against it. Then suddenly, the nightmare seemed to change direction. There were shuffling protests in the background as fists coming to contact with jaws were heard. The arm around Daphne's waist was suddenly yanked away roughly. Daphne could hear Kaiba's deadly enraged voice talking to the whimpering boys.

"You have messed with the wrong girl this time, and that is going to cost you…more than you can pay." His threatening voice was dangerous and low. The boys were tripping over each others' feet to get away from this unstoppable monster. "I will find you and when I do, I will make you regret what you have done."

Daphne sagged and her knees finally gave away. Two warm hands caught her before she could slide the floor.

"Daphne?" Kaiba's voice was deep and distressed. "Daphne, are you okay? Open your eyes and look at me." His stern voice said firmly, finally bringing Daphne out of her languor. She opened her eyes slowly. Her cousin's dark midnight ocean blue eyes were peering anxiously down at her. He shook her gently and in a calm, controlled tone asked her, "Did they do anything?"

She shook her head, then gasped. "Seto! Your hair! It's…It's purple!" Kaiba looked confused for a second, then brushed the silky strand of chestnut bangs from his eyes.

"No," he said slowly, staring into her eyes. "My hair is brown." Daphne blinked. He was right. The Kaiba standing in front of her has brown hair and his blue high school uniform on. His eyes reflected concern. If this was her cousin, then who was the Kaiba that was standing in front of her eyes only moments ago? His indigo diadem contrived with gold and gems with a white cape across his shoulders and his chest bare? His slanted eyes mocking her? Before she could reply, Kaiba scooped her up.

"I'm bringing you to the nurse." He stated simply. "I don't know what those guys have done, but I do know that you're not being yourself. You're hallucinating."

"But––" She protested, clinging on to the willowy brunette. "But––"

"No buts." Kaiba said in a tone that left no room for arguing. When he uses that tone, his mind was set and no one could change it. So Daphne went obediently to the nurse's office and with Kaiba's stern figure leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded, the nurse fussed over the Egyptian white girl.

"Now did that convince you that the cafeteria is not as safe as it seems?" Kaiba asked as they walked out of the office. "And will you come to eat lunch with me, now?"

"I've got a better idea." Daphne grabbed hold of Kaiba's hand.

"What's wrong, now?" Kaiba's tone was almost a whine. "Come on, I want to eat that lunch you made me––Hey!! Where are you going? I don't sit there! I sit––" With his cousin dragging him through the lunchroom with amazing strength, Kaiba managed to point toward an empty table on the other side of the cafeteria, which was where he sat at lunch everyday and that the students knew to stay away from.

"Well, like you said," Daphne reasoned logically. "The lunchroom is unsafe and I promised Téa I'd eat lunch with her, so I guess you're just have to come along with me."

"But––" Kaiba protested. Eating lunch with Yugi and his fans? He's going to throw up. This was the first lunch he's ever eaten at school and he's going to be eating it in front of Yugi? All of a sudden, the delicious lunch that his cousin had made him seemed to have lost its savories.

"No buts. Honestly, Seto," She chided. "I thought for a man who had never broken his word and had never gone back on a promise, you would understand this situation." She didn't notice all the eyes that were following her as she coursed through the crowds, but Kaiba's sharp eyes did. He scowled and gave them a glare that sent their attention back to their lunches. He sighed. Really, sometimes his little cousin was too naïve for her own good.

"Hey, Daphne," Téa greeted as the cousins reached the table. "What took you so long?"

"We ran into a little problem." Kaiba said coolly as he pulled out a chair for Daphne. Joey eyed him.

"Wow," he remarked. "Didn't know the great Seto Kaiba actually eats lunch."

"That shows how little you know, Chihuahua." Kaiba gave a cocky smirk. He sat down on a lunch chair under everyone's surprised gaze. Daphne sat down on the chair and gave her cousin a sweet smile before leaning forward and whispering something to Téa. Téa laughed. Joey groaned.

"There they go. Them goils are gonna yap and giggle until I'm more than ready ta throw up."

//Yugi.//

/Yes, Yami?/ Yugi watched Daphne and Téa laugh. There does seem to be something unique about Daphne. The cultivated girl was so…sweet and refined and something that Yugi doesn't know what made her special.

//Isn't she sweet? She's grown up to be so lovely.// Yami's voice was wistful.

/What's wrong, Yami? You haven't given up, yet?/

//What can I do? Duel Kaiba to see who gets the girl?//

/Yami!/ Yugi sounds shocked. /That doesn't sound like you! You've never given up before! There is something more than that./ Yami was silent before giving a sigh.

//You're right, aibou. There is something else. What if…what if she doesn't recognize me? What if she held a grudge against me? What if she hates me for leaving her in that position?//

/Well, there is only one way you can find out./