Chapter Five-The Soul of the Cards
"Are you sure you know what you're talking about, Magician? I swear, if you're lying to me..."
"I don't lie, Kuba. You should know that. Particularly when it pertains to Elizabeth." The Dark Magician was standing by Elizabeth's bedroom window, his back to the miniature Blue Eyes White Dragon that was nestled on her bed. "She may not know it, but we're not just pretend friends. Now we know why."
"You're crazy. Why would Atemu send us to look out for her before if he didn't have a confirmation until now?"
"Because of speculation." Came Celtic Guardian's voice, as he appeared along side Dark Magician. "Once Sagira confirmed it for him, he was satisfied."
"How does Sagira know about Elizabeth's reincarnation?" Dark Magician wondered aloud.
"Because, like the rest of us, she was alive." Kuba replied calmly. "Oh and by the way...ever notice how she doesn't talk to us anymore?"
"Well, she hasn't been home all this time, Genius. Maybe now we can hint for her to take us back with her to Kaiba's." Celtic Guardian suggested. "Speaking of the little princess...here she comes!" The three card guardians scrambled to reappear back in their cards.
It wasn't Elizabeth who opened her door. It was the old thief. "There's no use hiding. Come out." He was looking especially irritated.
Dark Magician appeared. "Bakare." He folded his arms, eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what you know,Fool. And no lies."
"Why should I tell you anything, street scum?" The magician aimed his staff.
"It doesn't matter if you do or not." Yami Bakura decided. "You should be working with her on her shadow magic though, if you're any kind of guardians."
"She's ten. She needn't be worrying about things like that. Besides, I sense more trouble coming." Dark Magician replied. "I'm about to give her our real names too."
"Trouble? What sort of trouble?" The old thief's eyes narrowed again.
"I'm not sure." Dark Magician sighed deeply. "Look, Seto will probably be here in the next couple of hours to collect her. Make sure we're packed away into her pocket or something."
"That's not my responsibility." The tomb robber sneered.
"Well you better make it your responsibility." CG reappeared. Just then they heard a loud siren. "And here come the cops. I can't believe Seto actually called them..."
After another minute, several voices were heard in the hall at the same time. Then thunderous footsteps on the steps, followed by Lizzie's pleading whine. "I better go to her." Dark Magician disappeared, to go to his little charge.
"Seto, I swear to you. I had no idea my yami was going to do this." Ryou sputtered helplessly.
"Yeah, well..." Seto seemed at a loss of words for the first time in a while. "At any rate, he scared Mokuba good. I didn't want these brainless fools involved," he gestured to the policemen trying to get Lizzie back downstairs,"they came at a distress call from Murray."
"What are they going to do?" Ryou asked nervously.
"Well, ordinarily, I guess you'd be arrested for kidnapping, but....I'm not going to press charges." Seto reassured him. "She does need to come with us now though." He looked up the staircase, sighing sadly. "I'm sorry, Bakura."
"It's.....it's perfectly all right." The British boy sighed sadly, moving into the kitchen. He had no desire to watch them force Elizabeth to leave.

As it was, Ryou could still hear Lizzie's cries of protest, for the girl was just hysterical. "I'm not leaving! My brother needs me!!"
"Lizzie, you have to come with me." Seto replied calmly. However it might have appeared on the outside, on the inside Seto was just as heartbroken by Lizzie's situation. "Please don't make this harder on yourself."
"Lizzie, we're going to come with you, okay?" Dark Magician appeared by his young charge, invisible to Seto.
"I can't leave Ryou, DM! I just can't!"
Seto's eyes narrowed. Not this again. She's too old for imaginary playmates, especially ones that live in her cards! He resolved to have one of his psychiatrists evaluate her later in the week. "Let's go Elizabeth." He told her near sharply.
"NO!" She turned to go to her room, but DM grabbed her arm gently.
"Lizabeth....you need to go with Seto. We're all going with you." He smiled kindly. "Even Wheeler, if you want him too."
"I do, but.....I just want to be with Ryou....." She went upstairs now, and locked herself in her room.

"You're being stupid, you know." Sagira emerged from the Pyramid. "There's a reason why all of this is happening."
"Shut up." Elizabeth snapped. "I don't like you, and I won't let you boss me around."
"Foolish girl! Do you think Pharaoh Atemu would just hand over his Dark Magician so you can have a play mate?!"
Lizzie shrugged. "How should I know? DM is my best friend, you know that."
"Yeah yeah. His name is Mahadou." Sagira replied. "Go with Seto, Elizabeth. You have to."
"We're all goin' with ya." Wheeler told her, as he stretched. "We need to stretch our dueling muscles. It's been forever since we've played, you know." The Flame Swordsman smiled. "Besides, I think Joey's supposed to come over and visit."
From the hall, Lizzie heard Ryou talking quietly to Seto, then, "Lizzie? Will you please come out?"
"Only if he lets me stay with you, Ryou." She leaned against the door, with a shiver.
"Open the door." It was Yami Bakura that spoke now. It was so unusual for both Bakuras to be in the same place (even in the same house) that Lizzie felt compelled to comply, if only to see this phenomenon herself. "Now..no one wants this to be happening, but...you've to comply,Elizabeth."
"But...."
"You must." Ryou told her sadly. "It's only for a little while."
Seto reached out, and took her hand. "Come on now. I'm already late for work as it is."
Lizzie wanted desperately to resist, but decided not to, when Wheeler appeared. The Flame Swordsman smiled comfortingly.
"Don't worry about a thing, Lizzie-bee. We're goin' with you." With that, he retreated to her deck, which was in her pocket.
"Okay. I'll go." Lizzie told Seto. Before long, they had pulled away from Ryou's house, and were headed for Kaiba Manor. Unbeknownst to either Lizzie or Seto, the limousine was followed by a Buick from a distance.