A couple of thanes stood awkwardly around the grand dining table at Dunsinane. Seto and Sakura had not yet arrived. There were waves of murmurs along the lines of 'Are we early? Where are the king and queen?'

Suddenly, Seto and Sakura appeared at the balcony above them. He wore a cape that matched his crown in brilliance. She wore a daring spaghetti strap dress with a suggestive slit. The thanes below were speechless.

Seto gestured the table. "You know what to do. Sit." He came down the stairs with his wife. "I will be your host. We'll save Sakura for the proper time."

Sakura laid her head on her husband's arm. "Tell them for me, then, Seto, that they are welcome."

The lords grinned and bowed as they sat.

A knock at the door directed Seto's attention away from the feast. "Look, Sakura – they thanked you." He laid a hand on the remaining chair in the middle. "I'll sit here, then. But I must speak with a visitor. So talk. Be happy. I'll be back to toast soon."

Seto started the attendants with filling the goblets around the table before leaving the hall and meeting the murderer at the door. "There's blood on your face," he said.

The killer wiped his cheek and looked at his fingers. "It's the thane's."

Seto shrugged. "Better on you than in him. You killed Yuugi, then?"

He nodded. "I cut his throat."

The king clapped him on the shoulder. "Well done. And did you get the kid?"

"He escaped, my liege."

Seto clenched the shoulder he held. No! he thought. My plan was perfect! How could he fail!? "But you got Yuugi?" he asked again.

"Yes," the cutthroat answered. "We left him in a ditch."

"The snake has been severely handicapped," Seto muttered to himself. "I can relax."

To the man before him, he said: "Go. We'll talk tomorrow."

He left, and Seto checked his appearance before reentering the dining hall. He noticed his seat was taken and stopped. "My lord," Sakura hailed. "If you don't welcome, the feast will be like a normal meal."

Seto nodded. "Thanks for reminding me, milady. Now, feast well!"

"Isn't he gonna sit?" Tristan asked a little softly.

"All the nobles of Scotland are here, except Yuugi," Seto said. "Let's hope he's late on purpose, not because of some accident."

Daemon spoke: "Whatever it was, he broke his promise. Come, sit," he said, echoing Tristan.

Seto shook his head. "The table's full."

Tristan tapped the empty chair next to him. "Here's a seat."

The king furrowed his brow. "Where?"

The thane regarded him. "Right here. What's troubling you?"

"N-nothing."

As Seto approached the proffered chair, the figure in it seemed to flicker. By the hair the specter had, he could tell it was Yami Yuugi. He hissed into the ghost's ear: "You can't say I did it. Go away!" The ghost seemed to disagree. "Don't shake your gory locks at me!"

Uneased, Daemon stood. "Gentlemen, rise. The king's not well."

Sakura moved to restore the peace. "No, sit. He's been like this since he was a child. Just ignore him – paying too much attention will further disturb him."

She pulled Seto aside. "Are you a man?" she rebuked.

"Only I would dare look at that which would frighten the devil," Seto whispered back.

"Nonsense, Kaiba!" Sakura said. "You're hallucinating again – it's just like that dagger. Quit it!" Seto grimaced and turned away. She forced him to look at her. "Don't make that face at me, Seto. Go, look if you want – your ghost is a stool!"

"No, I swear – he was there!" He turned to Yami's ghost. "You – speak! What do I care? You're dead." Yami dipped his head slowly. "If you can nod, speak!" Seto commanded. "If our graves send us back, we may as well not bury you."

Yami seemed to consider him, tilting his head curiously, before vanishing.

"It's gone!" Seto whispered joyfully.

Sakura shook him. "Have you lost your senses!"

"I sam him," Seto said. "That's all I need to know."

Sakura scowled, irritated. "It used to be when you killed someone he stayed dead," he continued. "But now they come back to haunt us."

Unable to convince him through reason, Sakura tried a different tack. "My lord, your guests miss you."

Seto shook his head to clear it. "You're right."

He took the now-empty seat. "I'm sorry, friends – I have a condition, but I'm all right now." He smiled. "So let's get started – someone, fill my cup."

The dam of tension broke, allowing talk to flood in. Tristan slapped Seto on the back in a friendly manner. Nevertheless, Seto stiffened, he'd felt a cold hand laid on his opposite shoulder. The lord didn't notice, but said, "How's about that toast?"

Seto acknowledged by standing. He raised his cup. "Here – let's drink to our health, and to Yuugi's!" he said. "I wish he were here!"

"Hear, hear!" the lords echoed. A little after the others, a low regal voice said into his ear, "Hear, hear."

Seto hid his shock. "Leave!" he hissed out of the side of his mouth. "You're dead and nothing can change that!"

Beside him, Sakura laughed nervously "Don't mind him," she said. "It'll pass quickly."

But the jovial chatter did not resume. The thanes watched, perplexed, as Seto took step after step away from the table. "No! Step back!" he said as he continued to retreat. "Take any form but his. Or come back to life and then come at me!"

He threw his wine at the specter, and it clung to him like blood. Yuugi put a hand to his throat, and looked at it, wondering at the silvery crimson on his fingers. "That's right!" Seto said. "You're dead! Go away!"

The spirit seemed to sigh sadly. He reached across and marked Seto with the ectoplasmic stuff on the cheek. Then he disappeared for all time.

Seto looked up to find everyone staring at him. "What are you looking at?" she said.

"You've ruined the mood," Sakura seemed to pout.

"I'm sorry," Seto said sarcastically. "You try facing what I saw."

"What did you see?" Daemon asked.

"Don't talk," Sakura reprimanded. "Questions only make him worse. Just go, and don't bother with that rank nonsense. It doesn't matter what order you leave."

"Good night, then. I hope Kaiba feels better tomorrow," Tristan said, but his voice had an odd inflection that was not sympathy.

"Good night, my lords!" Sakura said as she shepherded them out the door. When they had gone, she swooped on Seto. "What was that?" she demanded.

"Blood will have blood," he muttered. "The stones will move to reveal the sacred murderer." Loudly, he asked, "What time is it?"

"It's almost morning," Sakura said impatiently.

Seto reflected on the party. "That dog Wheeler wasn't here."

Sakura threw her hands up in frustration and walked a circle. "What does that have to do with anything? So what if he wasn't? Did you invite him?"

"I need to use more spies," Seto said to himself, almost ignoring what Sakura said. "And I need to visit the Weïrd sisters again. Things will only get bloodier, and I need fate on my side."

His wife held a hand to his forehead, and noted his damp hair. "You need sleep," she said.

Seto sighed. "Come with me. I'm not as tough as I thought. We've only just begun."

Sakura took him by the hand and led him up the stairs to their room.