Chapter Two- The Virtual Key

Noa grinned at Veronica's eagerness. "Not tonight, Ronnie. I'm tired, and even people in virtual reality need sleep." He had released her from his slight control, and was leading her into a bedroom. "This is where you will sleep while you are with me."

"Can't I just come back tomorrow?" Veronica asked, almost pleading. She wasn't fond of Noa in the least, and despised the way he seemed to be able to predict her every move.

"Sorry. That's not how this works. You have to stay with me for two days. That's part of the test." Noa replied simply. Even overcoming your ridiculous fear of me would be a small victory. He added to himself silently. "I've already told you. I have no desire to hurt you."

"There's nothing you can say that will make me trust you." Veronica informed him, before closing the door on his face.

"Suit yourself. But you're not leaving this world until you can trust me." Noa called through the door, before retiring to his own room for the night.

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The next morning, Noa knocked on his visitor's door, with a tray of food in hand. "Time to eat!"

Veronica opened the door, giving him a dirty look. "What time is it, Noa?"

"It's eight o'clock in the morning." Noa told her, passing by her into the room. He set the tray down on her table. "I've brought you breakfast. I think you'll find your choices satisfactory."

But Veronica wasn't interested. "Are you nuts?! I have to go to school!"

"No need. I've already excused you." Noa countered with a smirk. "Eat up. You've a long day ahead of you."

Veronica stared after the Kaiba as he left her room once more. He plans to keep me here forever, doesn't he? Well, I've got news for him. He's going to be in a lot of trouble when Vinnie comes home.

"Wishful thinking, Ronnie." Noa called from the living room. "No one will suspect a "video game" of kidnapping."

Veronica fumed silently. She hated the way Noa could read her every thought! It didn't seem right. She closed her door, and turned to the tray of food. Her eyes widened, noting that the virtual boy had spared no expense to make sure she had her favorites. She smiled now. Maybe he's not so bad after all…..I shouldn't have been so quick to throw accusations at him. Besides, he did free Mokuba, didn't he? She hoped Noa hadn't realized she was having a change of heart, as she finished up her pancakes with peanut butter topping. She walked out of her room to tell Noa that herself, but the boy was nowhere to be seen. "Noa? Noa!"

"Don't shout. I'm over here." Noa called from a long corridor.

"I thought you'd left me." Veronica allowed herself to admit that fear. "My brother always leaves me without warning."

Noa studied her silently for a minute, then smiled. But it wasn't his normal smirk. This one was a true smile of kindness. "I'm not going to leave you, Veronica. I'll always be here if you need me." He held out his hand. "What do you say? Can we be friends?"

Veronica put her hand in his. "Yeah." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Noa…"

"It's okay. If I were you, I wouldn't have trusted me either." Noa smiled. "Come. I want to show you your test."

The girl nodded, and let Noa lead her down the long corridor. "This looks familiar. Isn't this where Joey Wheeler had his duel?"

"It is. But I have redesigned it since then." Noa confirmed. "You really paid attention to those episodes, didn't you?"

"They were my favorite set. Plenty of Mokuba and Seto for any Kaiba fan." She smiled now, remembering the reason why she'd loved them so much. "Then of course, we finally got to see your father. I'd always wanted to know what he was like."

"He was a creep." Noa muttered. "And I suppose you didn't like me at all."

"No, I loved you, Noa. I just couldn't let anyone else at school know that. They were all against you. Even after you repented."

Noa sighed sadly. "Veronica…..I'm sorry you even had to see me like that."

"It's okay. You're forgiven. Now, enough about the past. Tell me about this test!" She let Noa put an arm around her, smiling. For the first time in a very long time, she felt something she thought she'd never feel again. The love of a brother.

"Ah, yes. The test." He pushed open a door, and led her into a dark room. With a snap of his fingers, Noa had the lights on. All around them were computer consoles, but he went to the one in the middle. "Come, and sit." He invited her warmly. He started typing some commands into the computer. "Your test is to retrieve the Virtual Key. "

"Virtual Key?" Veronica sat down, immediately interested.

"Yes. It is hidden deep within the virtual world. It's the link that ties me to your world and my brothers' world."

"Then why should I find it?" Veronica questioned.

"In order to get you back home, I need the key. See, getting you here used up my last portal. The only way for you to get back now is to find the key." Noa looked at her. "You're not afraid of doing it alone, are you?"

"Of course not! I've been playing virtual games long enough to know how their played out."

"Ah, but this is no game, Doll. This is the real deal. There is no reset button here." Noa told her. "Of course, I'll be keeping an eye on you from this computer. If you get into too much trouble, I can get you out of it. But I was hoping you wouldn't need my assistance."

"What happens if I fail?" Veronica dared to ask. She was beginning to feel a little nervous.

"Then you'll be stuck here with me forever." Noa said softly. "You won't fail though, will you?"

"No. I won't fail, Noa." Veronica stood up now. "When do I begin?"

"Very soon now. You're going to need a few things first." He stood up as well, and walked into the room adjoined to the control room. "Follow me."

She followed him into the room. "What's in here?"

"Your supplies." Noa replied, rummaging around in a box. He came up with a backpack, which was already filled. "This has food, drink and clothing enough for four days. Hopefully, it won't take you any longer than that to find the key." He handed it to her, then moved to a different part of the room in front of a blank wall. He snapped his fingers, and a table emerged from the wall.

"How do you do that?! It's cool!" Veronica exclaimed now. He'd been able to do that one too many times for her not to speak of it now.

Noa chuckled in amusement. "I designed this entire base. So it answers to my every command. Stay here long enough, and you'll be able to do the same thing." He returned to the table. Another snap of his fingers, and it was covered with several dueling devices. "I assume you remember the way things were when my brothers and their friends were held here?"

"Y-yes. They had to duel the Big Five." She made a face, as a sudden thought occurred to her. "Am I going to have to duel them?!"

Noa laughed loudly now. "No! No, they're gone now. But you will have other opponents to duel. There are three types of duels in this "game" ,as you would put it. Levels, if you will. The first level is played out like the original Duel Monsters. The second is Dungeon Dice Monsters. The third and final level combines the first two with my Deck Master system. " He gestured to the dueling equipment. "You will need all of these to succeed."

Veronica's eyes lit up. "This is going to be so cool! It's like I'm in the TV show!"

"This is no TV show, Doll. You will have your hardships. It will be perilous at times, and nearly impossible others." Noa replied, as he helped her suit up. "Your strongest weapon is your vast knowledge of the past. If you can remember that, you have the upper hand already in this quest. Dueling skills won't matter if you don't know what's coming."

Veronica's eyes widened, when she realized she didn't remember how Dungeon Dice Monsters went. Come on, get a hold of yourself, Ronnie. Think Duke when that part comes up. Try to imagine what his moves would be.

"Is something wrong, Ronnie?" Noa asked her, looking concerned.

"No…. Nothing at all." Veronica refused to let Noa know that she was beginning to feel terrified of the coming challenge.

She didn't have to tell him. Noa could sense it. He put a hand on her shoulder. "You're going to be okay. Just remember that nothing is as it seems here." He took her hand in his, in an effort to calm her unease. "Relax. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Veronica looked up at Noa, comforted. "Why couldn't you have come for me sooner?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"That doesn't matter now, does it?" Noa asked softly. "I came. And I will be here for you always now." He pulled her into a tight hug. "I expect nothing but the best from you on this, Veronica. I know you will succeed."

Veronica nodded, and before pulling away from him, she wiped her unshed tears. "I'm ready, Noa."

"That's my girl." Noa replied, leading her into a glass tube that took them to the top of the base. "Here is where we must part, Doll." He left the girl standing by the staircase leading to the virtual shore. "Remember what I told you." Noa called as he departed the same way they'd arrived.

Veronica looked down on the virtual island, trembling. Well, here goes nothing! I hope I can make Seto and Mokuba proud! She descended the metal steps, beginning the biggest adventure of her life.