"Are you leaving again after school?" Duke asked, leaning against Daphne's locker.
"Yes," she said simply. She offered no smile, no warmth, no life. Duke frowned. Ever since that day he left Kaiba Mansion, Daphne had disappeared. Now that she's returned, her old self was gone.
"I never see you again after school," he bit his lips, wondering what was wrong with Daphne that she couldn't tell him. He had already tried cornering Kaiba, but all the CEO did was look angry enough to deck him and call his security. "It's not just me either, the whole gang is complaining."
"I see." She continued gathering her books, without looking up at Duke. Now he was more confused than ever, Daphne cared about her friends, more than anything. Finally couldn't stand it anymore, Duke reached out and grabbed her arm. He felt Daphne recoil under his fingers but he didn't loosen them.
"What's wrong with you?" He demanded. "You seem at ease with the girls when you're around them, but the other guys swore you're avoiding them." Daphne's eyes slowly, deliberately, strayed to Duke's hands, then followed his arm until she was staring into his eyes. He was surprised to see that her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. He opened his mouth to say something but Daphne didn't give him a chance as she pulled her arm away and gathered her books, hurrying out of the building into the courtyard. It took him a full minute to realize that she was no longer in front of him then bolted after her, his blue uniform jacket flapping, ignoring the strange looks that students were giving him.
He looked around as he got outside and saw from the corner of his eyes Daphne hurrying away. Halfway there, she turned back and saw him chasing her. She started running. Towards the limo parked in front of the school, Duke thought with dismay. If she gets away this time, he'll never get to talk to her again. It didn't take long for him to catch up with her.
"Daphne, stop!" He huffed as he tackled her. They both went down. Duke struggled until his face was just above her.
"Duke, please." Daphne lifted up her hand to shove him off. "Let go!" But Duke was quick as he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head on the ground.
"No, talk to me Daph," he begged. "Why have you been ignoring us? Is it something I've done? What's going on?" Daphne struggled and the creator of Dungeon Dice detected a flash of panic dart across her eyes. She finally gave up and said in an oddly thin voice that her own ears didn't recognize. Her voice sounded small and scared.
"My cousin's waiting."
"He can wait."
"People are watching us."
"Let them watch." But he got up grudgingly and helped her up. She dusted off her uniform and Duke took this moment to check the limo out. Kaiba was sitting in the backseat and looked like he was flipping through some papers. He wouldn't miss his cousin for a while from the intense look on his face. He gathered up their scattered book and led her to a more secluded spot in the courtyard.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"No you aren't." Duke hadn't planned for his voice to be so sharp, but it simply came out fierce. "You were never at home and you know it! I've been to Kaiba Mansion three times the past week. Each day, either Bakura, Kaiba, or Yami would answer the door saying you're busy in your own library. Then they'd shut the door in my face. But two out of the three days, I walk down the street and see you in Kaiba's limo, heading home."
No answer, only the sound of feel shuffling in the dirt. Duke sighed.
"Fine, just answer me this so I could at least go back and tell the guys, are you okay? Are you in some sort of trouble?" He held his breath and prayed that Daphne would at least answer him that much.
"I'm going to the counselor's right now." Was the answer, as soft and feathery as the wind. Duke had expected anything…but this.
"What? Why?"
"Because—" for a moment, the Egyptian girl's expression looked so pained that Duke was sorry he had asked, though he was determined to get the answer if possible.
"It's okay, you don't have to answer if you don't want to." He tried not to sound disappointed. "I'll just catch you at school tomorrow."
"There was an accident." Those soft words halted him in his path. He turned slowly. Daphne swallowed hard as she continued, her eyes downcast. "It was at our last site. I…I had an argument with Yami. And then…then I ran off so I wouldn't do something I would regret." She stopped and Duke walked closer. He was shocked when he saw a trail of tears on Daphne's cheek.
"I'm sorry…" He didn't know what to say.
"I…I was so scared." She choked out. "I was so afraid I would never see Yami again to tell him I'm sorry. And…and…"
"Shhh…" Duke put his arms around her. He understood. And that small gesture with his arms around her shaking shoulders showed Daphne that he did understood…perfectly. They stood silent for a moment as students streamed pass them out the school entrance. Then he fished out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
"You need some cheering up." He decided after she handed the kerchief back. "You shouldn't be going to a counselor. That would make you feel worse than you already feel."
"Seto insists—"
He waved her off. "What I think you really need that huge ice cream sundae that you owe me and then something fun to do. You need to go back to being the student and teen you were before. So, hang out somewhere."
"But—"
"Come on, we'll tell Kaiba. And trust me, this day is going to be more than you've ever bargained for!"
And was Duke ever so correct.
"I say we go to the bakery next, I heard that they have great pastries there." Duke patted his stomach and slouched down the street. Daphne looked over at him, astounded.
"How can you eat anything at all after that huge sundae?" She joked. "Not just only yours, mine too!"
True to his words, Duke had tried all of his might to make Daphne's heart light. And the creator of Dungeon Dice, who held his dignity as high as Kaiba does his, tried everything and succeeded. Daphne laughed and smiled and her face glowed with the usual radiance. She's beginning once again to resume her life as a student and not the victim she was.
"Well, where do you want to be heading right now?" Duke cocked his head. "I could take you back to my game shop but we've already been there and I've already taught you how to play Dungeon Dice."
"I couldn't eat anymore, that's for sure." Daphne countered. "We'll already been to the ice cream parlor and now the café." She stopped all of a sudden in front of a store window. "Hey, look!"
"What?" Duke stepped up next to her to the banner that was hanging on the shop window. "'Domino Museum Is Now Featuring a New Section, Exhibiting Ancient Egyptian Artifacts.'" He read. "Neat."
"Let's go there." Daphne said eagerly. "It's only about three blocks from here." Duke shrugged as he proceeded to follow her down the road. They've gone two blocks when Duke's cell phone rang. He stopped walking and dug through his book bag, muttering, "Who could that be? If it's the manager complaining about me being a slacker again, I'm going to—Hello?"
"Duke," Kaiba's voice came over the phone. "I would like you to bring Daphne home now, something's come up."
"Wha—how did you get my number?" Duke's expression was one of shock and demand.
"It's called a computer data resource base, you moron, or have you forgotten that I'm the CEO of KaibaCorp, who possessed the best technology system in the whole world? Besides, would I let her wonder off you with if I didn't know everything about you?"
"Everything?!" Duke echoed so loudly that people on the streets were beginning to stop and star at the pair.
"Nevermind, Dice-boy, let me speak to Daphne."
"Hey, wait a second, however did you get all of my infor—"
"Give…her…the…phone…NOW!" Without a second word, the cell phone was in Daphne's hands for no one disobeys Kaiba when he's using that voice.
"Hello, Seto, is something wrong?"
"I need you to come home, where are you? If it's far, I'll send the limo to pick you up."
"We were heading for Domino Museum and we're about a block from reaching there."
"Domino Museum?!" Kaiba's muffled voice from the phone was lined with surprise.
"Yes." A frown of worry was beginning to form on Daphne's brows. "Seto, please tell me, is something wrong?"
"What? No, not at all. Never mind coming home. We'll be meeting you in front of the Domino Museum in about fifteen minutes."
"Why?"
"Ishizu Ishtar invited us over as special guest for a private tour and something else. I'll see you there."
"Who's Ishizu—Seto!" She sighed with frustration as she handed the caller-less phone back to Duke, who put it back into his bag.
"So?" He probed. "What did he want? Should we be heading home?"
"No, we're going to meet him in front of Domino Museum. He didn't tell me why, he simply said that someone called Ishizu invited him."
"Ishizu Ishtar? She's the one that's opening the new Egyptian Exhibits." Daphne stopped still in her tracks and turned to Duke.
"Really? The new Egyptian exhibits were founded by her?" She murmured to herself. "And she invited us for a private tour? Interesting." What could Ishizu possibly want with them? Why did she request a special private party? What did she want to share with them? Without warning, Daphne took off toward the museum, calling back, "I'll race you there!"
"Wait! You had a head start, that's not fair!"
"If you were a real athlete, then you'd stop whining about a girl getting a head start and start catching up!"
"But I'm not an athlete! I'm the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters!"
Daphne was waiting for Duke on the steps and Duke had just reached her when they recognized the KaibaCorp limo as it swerved into a parking space. They weren't surprised when Kaiba stepped out however, they were surprised to see that not only Yami and Bakura followed but the whole gang as well. Kaiba glowered as they piled out.
"Yami, this is all your fault." Daphne could hear him mutter. "If you hadn't want to bring Yugi along, then we would have to be stuck with all these morons."
"I've been wanting to visit this museum for a while now," Serenity was saying to Téa. "Except Joey never had time to bring me."
"Egyptian Exhibit?" Mai raised an eyebrow at the majestic building in front of her. "This would either be exceedingly interesting or it could make me fall asleep."
"That's the spirit, Mai." Tristan remarked sarcastically as he followed Joey up the steps.
"Can you walk any slower, Ryou?" Bakura growled. "You too, Yugi, let's get moving."
"We're going, we're going." Yugi and Ryou hurried up the steps where Kaiba had already claimed his position next to Daphne.
"I'm warning you, Chihuahua, if you get lost, I'm not coming to look for you." Kaiba narrowed his eyes. "In fact, this is just plain rude, though just like you to act this way, pushing your way through when nobody invited you."
"Kaiba, spare us the CEO attitude." Mai ordered. "We're here as guests not thieves."
"Uninvited guests."
"Well, as long as we're all here," Duke interrupted. "Should we be heading in?"
"I don't know about the rest of you," Yami looked doubtfully at the huge group. "But I know that only Kaiba, Daphne, Bakura, and I have been invited."
"Aw, come on," Joey interrupted. "Now that we're here, don't let us out of the fun here!"
"This could be a business meeting for all I know!" Kaiba snapped and was just about to say more when the museum's double doors opened.
"Welcome. I've been expecting you." A young Egyptian woman stood on the other side. Her hair was black and her tanned skin was flawless. She wore a simple Egyptian gown and her blue eyes slowly strayed to all the teens outside the door. Her sharp blue eyes caught the uncertainties of the other teens and she added, "All of you."
Kaiba walked to the front of the group and extended his hands in the business like way. "I'm—"
"—Seto Kaiba." The woman finished for him. "I know who you are. I'm Ishizu Ishtar and I've asked all of you to come here tonight for a special reason."
"Geez," Mai whispered yawning. "I'm already bored."
"Please, all of you, follow me." Ishizu turned and the group followed her. "Excuse all the secrecy." She apologized as they walked through the lobby. "But there has been several accidents that occurred and we do not wish for more incidents like that to happen while we're in Domino City."
"Ishizu," Yami inquired, his voice deep and reasonable. "Why have you asked us here? Why us?" Kaiba was positive that Ishizu was hiding something from the look in her eyes as she turned to Yami.
"This is where the rest of you will be staying." She opened a door to a room. Egyptian artifacts of all sorts feasted their eyes. Glittering gold jewelry, satin and silk chitons, gleaming swords and shining armors, reflecting helmets and ancient scrolls and other fascinating artifacts were position around the room, giving it a look of rapture and mystery.
"What do you mean the rest of us?" Téa finally pulled her eyes away from the objects. Ishizu gave her a smile.
"Only Bakura, Yami, Kaiba, and Daphne will be joining me to our next stop. The rest of your group is welcomed to stay in this section of the exhibits. Though I must warn you, if you venture where you do not belong, the alarm will be set off immediately and reinforcements will arrive."
"Why the mysterious act?" Tristan frowned. "And the heavy security?" He nodded toward the security guards that were standing in different parts of the first floor. Ishizu watched him with a steady gaze, then turned to the guards.
"You may leave us." She told them, then turned back to the group. "I trust you and your group to remain only in the visitor allowed section of the exhibits." All she got were wide-eyed looks and several stiff nods. She gave them another reassuring and mysterious smile before turning to the four true people intended for her mission. "Do follow me."
Ishizu led them through the dark hallways. Their steps echoing through the cold tiles.
"So tell us already," Kaiba's deep voice said annoyingly. "What is it that you wanted to show us?" Ishizu didn't say a word as she led them down the steps to the cool basement of the museum.
"This is where the most priceless artifact is kept." She stated simply, flicking on the lights. Yami, Bakura, Daphne, and Kaiba found themselves facing two colossal stone tablets.
"What is this?" Kaiba muttered walking closer, Yami followed. Bakura also frowned and moved toward the two tablets. Daphne hung back, horrified. She didn't have to move closer in order to know what the hieroglyphics on the tablets say. How could she forget those familiar scriptures? The stone that were carved on the palace wall in where she ruled for years? She closed her eyes and remembered the story that the tablets told. About Yami and Priest Seto, about the Dark Magician and Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon, the battle fought and won, and the many that were sacrificed.
Daphne's hand clutched at her chest and she pressed back against the cold steel wall. Had Ishizu brought them here to show them the hieroglyphics? Who was she? Does she know what happened? Is she going to tell them the years of pain that Daphne's gone through after Yami?
"Oh, no." She said softly as she heard Ishizu explain the tablets to Kaiba, Bakura, and Yami, whose mouths were dropped open with disbelief and shock. She explained through the process of Kaiba being Priest Seto and betrayed Yami and how Yami had to seal up the mystical powers that the sorcerer had found a way to summon up.
"Perhaps I should start explaining from the beginning," Ishizu stated after she explained the tablets. "I invited you here today because I think it's time the four of you know everything. And I do mean everything. From the very beginning." There were only mute nods as Ishizu beckoned Daphne to come and join them.
"I'm going to bring you back to the very beginning of this whole story with my Millennium Necklace." She touched the intriguing necklace that was around her neck, her only piece of adornment. "And there you shall see." There was a flash of bright light and Daphne found herself staring at a small stone house in the middle of a desert.
"This is the beginning," Ishizu's voice came as she looked over at Daphne. "Princess Delphinium, this was your home. Where you were born." A gasp came from Yami's direction and Bakura all of a sudden paled. So pale that he was practically see-through. Kaiba blanched and looked like he was about throw up. But they swallowed and watched as the scene played out before them like a slow-motion movie.
"I have to do this, I have to!" A woman's sobbing voice was heard from the house.
"Are you sure about this, Melia?" A soft voice, edged with a rough texture, questioned softly.
Both voices were extremely familiar to the listener's ears and Yami gasped as he heard the woman's name.
"Melia?" He whispered, choking the name out. "This…this can't be!"
"What's wrong, Yami?" Daphne's heart thumped as she watched Yami's expression.
"Melia…she's my…sister!" Yami looked sick. "She's the sister that was carried off by a band of Arabian robbers. The sister that I told Yugi about. I thought…I thought she was dead…" Bakura made a strangled noise in his throat.
"Ishizu…" Kaiba looked uncertain. "What do you mean this is the beginning? Where is this leading to?" Ishizu placed a slender finger to her lips.
"Keep watching," she motioned.
"I must. I want to watch you while you prepare the basket." Melia's voice came closer as she emerged from the cabin, a white-haired young man carrying her. She was weak and obviously unhealthy. She had straight long black hair and her violet eyes were a carbon copy of Yami's.
The young man set her on a woven mat placed in the sand beside the Nile and went back into the house once again. This time, he came out with a small wrapped bundle in his arms. He leaned down tenderly and cradled the bundle lovingly. Then he placed it in Melia's arms. She smiled through her tears as she bent over and traced the infant's rose petal skin with her fingertips. The baby made a low coo.
This time, everybody gasped, excluding Ishizu.
"That's…that's Delphinium." Yami stammered.
"That's…Bakura?!" Kaiba let out a shaky breath and turned to the white-haired tomb robber. Bakura hung his head as Daphne's hand flew to her throat.
"Mother?"
"Melia, you don't have to do this." Bakura said softly as he began laying soft layers of blankets in the woven basket. "We could keep her. I could take care of her and you. I know you're a princess of noble blood and I'm just…just a worthless thief, but—"
"Bakura," the woman looked up and smiled affectionately though sadly. "How many time have I told you, it doesn't make a different what you were before you met me, I have grown to love you during these months. I could never thank you enough for what you have already done. You rescued me from those horrible Arabians and you stayed with me and kept me safe through these months. You were there when she was born and you stayed with me through everything. I could never thank you enough. Without you…"
"Yeah, well," Bakura ran a hand through his hair. "I was going to steal their riches when I saw you. I couldn't quite leave you after I saw how rough they were treating you. The first time I saw you, I loved you more than any treasure I had been after. But I'm not a good man, Melia. I've had a horrible past. I didn't want you to love me. All I wanted to do was to bring you back to the palace, where you belong. I didn't think I deserved your love."
"Nevertheless, I loved you. And I owe you my daughter's life and mine. Without you, she would never have been brought down to earth." Melia held the baby tighter to her as she choked back another sob. "That is the reason why I must do this, I must. You have helped given the baby life, now we must keep it that way."
"We could still make it back to the palace, as soon as your health is stable, we could continue our journey—" Bakura started helplessly, but Melia held out a hand.
"It's too late, Bakura." She said softly. "You and I both know that I don't have much time left. I wouldn't make it back to the palace in time. The baby deserves more than what you or I could give her. She's of noble blood, she's a princess. She deserves to be brought up in a palace."
"But why float her down the Nile?" Bakura protested gently. "You know how dangerous that is, even though it flows straight behind the palace. I could bring her to the pharaoh myself."
Melia shook her head. "I know your good intentions, I know how much you love the baby, though she's not yours. I watched your expression when you saw her being born, there was great love in your eyes. After she was born, you loved her like your own, I could tell. I trusted you, Bakura, and I love you. I cannot let you go to the palace without me. It is too dangerous for you to risk. They know you. Priest Seto had been after you for years. They know who you are and what you've done. You're going to be in the dungeon as soon as you set a foot into the city."
"It's because I'm a thief!" Bakura's voice was bitter. "I don't care if they hang me! I care about you and the baby!"
"Please do this for me, Bakura," the princess begged. "The time is near, I must know that my treasure is safe before I leave this world. Do this last favor for me, please…" She was getting weak, very weak.
Bakura's sorrowful brown eyes softened when he saw the pleading in her eyes. "Alright. I'll do this for you, I'll make sure to do everything you say." He pulled her in his embrace and buried his face in her hair.
"Bakura…" He heard the feather soft whisper and looked down at the beautiful princess. "…I love you. I want you to know that. I can never love any royalty as much as I've loved you…a thief." She smiled weakly.
"That's certainly not what you said when you first came about after I knocked you out in order to save you," Bakura tried to make his voice light but he swallowed hard. He rocked her back and forth as he remembered the day he rescued her from the band of Arabian robbers. "You woke up and said, 'You rescued me? Aren't you that thief that's known all over Egypt? Well, if you rescued me to win my love, you're never going to get it! My love isn't going to be wasted on a tomb robber. If I do love anyone, it's going to be a rich, handsome royalty.' Remember that, Melia?"
Melia managed a weak smile. "I was young that time. I didn't know what love was and you were so much older than me. You taught me so much though I gave you a horrible time. This is a battle you've finally won, Bakura. All my love now and forever, will belong to you, the known thief, the tomb robber, and I'm not ashamed to admit it."
"I love you, Melia."
"I love you, too. Love between the princess and the tomb robber, and now I know that it is possible, from…love between you…and me…" She took her last breath and her eyelids slowly closed.
Bakura swallowed. "The princess and the thief, Melia, and my heart will belong to you until the day that we meet again."
Without another word, he set her body down. In the Egyptian sunlight, Melia's lips seemed to be curled up to a smile of love and peace. Bakura slowly turned away from his lover to the infant. The baby lying beside her mother gave a happy gurgle as Bakura picked her up. A strangled sob choked out as he cradled the baby tightly to his chest. She was all he lad left of her and Melia was right. She does deserve more than what he could give her.
He slowly pulled away from her and set her down in the woven basket and carried her to the waterfront. He waded until the water was up to his waist then set the basket into the water. He knew the chances were heavy that some royal princesses would pick up the basket. He heard that they love their backyard water garden behind their palaces.
"Good-bye…" He whispered as he took a last look at the nameless baby before fastening the lid over the waterproof basket. Then he drew his hand back and watched from a distance as the basket flowed along the rapids, away from him, toward the direction of the palace.
"That was the beginning. The beginning of everything." Ishizu said as she brought them back to the presence with the Millennium Necklace.
"Mo-Mother…" Daphne choked out as she hung her head, teardrops spattering on the floor. She sank to the floor and covered her face with her hands. The guys were speechless.
"R-Ra," Yami dropped to his knee besides Daphne and awkwardly patted her back.
"So, now you know." Bakura whispered. "I was never going to bring that up again."
Kaiba's fingers were trembling as he opened his suitcase, desperately searching for something. "Aspirin, aspirin…"
"Yami found Delphinium, later on, without knowing she was the daughter of Melia. Destiny had led her straight toward him and through his heart."
"My niece?" Yami muttered to himself. "So there, she was of noble blood. But somehow, I don't like the sound of that."
"You were her father, Yami," Ishizu's smile made him look up. "Destiny had made you her father, nothing will ever change that."
A/N: Hey! I've sort of developed a routine here and I'm going to upload a chapter every Friday! ^.^ I know this chapter is kind of weird and Bakura's name wasn't really Bakura…but bear with me here. As for Delphinium's father, for her dignity's sake, we're not going to worry about that. I'm getting so many review!!! I'm so HAPPY!! ^.^ Oh, and by the way, after this story is over I plan to write a story about Gundam Wing so if you all GW fans out there can give me all the information about the Preventers possible, I'd really appreciated!!