In the Eye of the Beholder

Chapter Nine:

Seto's Confessions

By: fairysphinx

fairysphinx: Hiya! Back with the next chapter! And, I just want to remind everyone that I will only be updating on SATURDAYS, okay? Okay, good. With that out of the way, I can start the fic! Please enjoy, and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh, although I DO own Ktara and Yata.

Yugi talking to Yami/

//Yami talking to Yugi//

!Bakura talking to Y. Bakura/Yaku!

!!Y. Bakura/Yaku talking to Bakura!!

{Ktara talking to Y. Ktara/Yata}

[Y. Ktara/Yata talking to Ktara]

* indicates action taking place *

indicates a passage in time

The hall ended, and they walked through another set of double doors. The room was large, resembling Nano's, but it was more dreary, and less lit. Nano was holding tightly to Yaku's arm. "What's the matter?" he asked her, noticing her sudden fear.

"I never liked this place. This is Bankyup's realm. He is extremely powerful. The bad thing is that we have to fight him. Almost none gets past him, who gets past myself and Zyun. And only one person can fight him…and my bets are on one of the young ones…not Yugi. He had a different job. Not Malik…Seto or Bakura are my bets." Yaku didn't like this. He didn't like the idea of his light possibly having to fight a very strong demon. He didn't want him hurt.

"Seto Kaiba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Well, we have our answer," Yata muttered under her breath. Seto hesitated. There was an angry roar.

"Y-you'd better go to him, Seto," Nano said, hiding behind Yaku. Seto gulped. The voice sounded very angry. He didn't want to go. But, he had to go…or they might not get Ktara back, and the world might be destroyed. He closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths. Then, he opened them, and walked toward the voice. A mist formed, and enveloped him.

Seto shuddered. The mist was cold. Not to mention that he was terrified. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end. "Hello?" he called out into the mist. "You called me. What do you want?" A form came forth out of the fog. It was a small girl, with pale skin and blue hair.

"Your intentions aren't what they seem," she said, looking into a small, round mirror in her hands.

"What do you mean?"

"I can see your thoughts right here, in this mirror. As clear as day. You see the one you seek as more than just a friend."

"How did you-."

"Like I said, I can see your thoughts, your deepest, darkest thoughts, that no one else knows or ever would know, in this mirror. Come and see, if you don't believe me." Seto moved to look over her shoulder. Sure enough, on the screen of the mirror, there were not images, but words.

'She's gorgeous. And I think that I like her…more than a friend. Heh. Figures. Everything that I want is just out of my reach. And it's Yugi that usually receives it all. He's even beginning to take Mokuba from me!'

Seto's face was pale, his eyes wide. Sure, anyone could guess that he disliked Yugi, although he respected him. But…all of this? His fears? …everything? It was just not possible! "Everything is possible, Seto Kaiba. The thing is, can it be done?"

"You're just asking if it's impossible or not." She shook her head.

"No, I'm not. Everything is possible. It's just a matter of whether you think you can do it, or not. Well, do you?" Kaiba became lost in his thoughts. It was hard to say whether or not he could do it.

"It seems so hopeless. Nano, and just about everyone else have said that it will be so complicated, and we might not make it!"

"Ignore them. What do you think? Not anyone else. Just you?" Her eyes were transfixed on him, waiting for the answer.

'But I don't know,' he thought, closing his eyes. 'This is some sort of test, I know that. But, what if I give the wrong answer? Hm. I'm sure Yugi could answer. He wouldn't answer to what everyone else thought. He'd speak truthfully, and say what he thought.' Seto unconsciously smiled. 'He's too innocent for his own good…. And, even with the god cards, I'll never beat him. For once, I'll admit it. He is the better duelist, and the better man. He deserves Ktara, and I'm sure that he would have cared for her, like I could never have done.' Seto chuckled. He'd never really thought of it before, and probably never would again.

"Yeah," he said. "I think that it can be done."

"Who are you talking to?" Yata asked. He opened his eyes. The fog had lifted. The girl was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did she go?" he asked.

"She? The guardian of this gate was supposed to be male!" Nano exclaimed. Then, she began to think. "Maybe they changed shifts, because I informed you about the gates. Hm. Ingenious!"

"Shouldn't we be going? We have to get Ktara soon!" Malik said.

"Yeah, the world could be destroyed while we're away, the amount of time we're spending here!" said Yaro. Yami touched Yata's arm.

"I think that it's time to wake him up," he said to her, softly. She nodded, and chanted something. A pink fog seemed to lift from the young boy's body. His eyes fluttered open.

"Where am I?" he asked, and he yawned. As the young boy stretched, he looked around, and his eyes fell upon Nano. "And who's she?"

"Yugi, we're going to get Ktara…to destroy the Eye. And this is Nano. She has joined us." Yugi slowly nodded, the effects of the solutions not fully worn off.

"To get Ktara," he muttered, stumbling to his feet. "What are you waiting for?" He began to walk on, and was followed by the rest of the gang. Nano hung back near the end, and spoke with Yata and Yami.

"I am fearful," she said to them. "For the next test is the worst by far."

"What happens?" Yami asked. Nano looked down.

"The wounded heart is not easily healed. Ktara has been hurt badly, and I'm sure that she won't be easily convince to save the world. Her heart is in pain, and so is her soul. The next test is to convince her to save the world. But, we may never look upon her. Just talk to her. And, if her mind falters enough, she will be granted passage back to the living world."

"And what becomes of her after she has destroyed the Eye?" asked Yata.

"It is up to her. She may stay in the land of the living. Or, she may go to the realm of the dead. It is her choice. But, the chances are slim to non that she will stay." Nano paused. "I saw the look on her face when she entered. When they come thru these rooms, their souls are revealed. Her face was so pained, I was in agony just looking at her." She sighed. "The chances are slim, but we have to take them."

"Hey, are you three coming?" Bakura called through the double doors. Slowly, they made their way to the hall, and were enveloped in darkness, emerging on the other side into light, blue skies decorated with lazy white clouds, green grass, flowers, and maidens and men of all shapes and sizes.

"Finally," Yugi whispered to no one in particular. "We're here."

END OF CHAPTER NINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fairysphinx: Whelp, the end of another chapter. * sigh * Wasn't too impressed with chapter nine. Poor Seto Kaiba! * bursts out crying * I'm so mean to the poor guy! * sniffle * But, I hoped that you liked it better than I liked it. Anyhow, please review, and tell me what you think! Thanks! And be on the lookout next Saturday for chapter ten, Convincing Ktara. Bye!