Chapter Seven-Nobody Wins

The next morning, Seto, Mokuba and Elizabeth arrived at the courthouse promptly at eight. They sat down on the long bench in the waiting room, while they awaited their trial. Lizzie clasped and unclasped her Item, feeling a darker energy around her. I hope Eliza's behaving herself. The last thing we need is her interference. However, DM,who was also with her, though invisible, shook his head.

"It's not Sagira. It's someone else. Her name is Mana." He put a protective hand on Lizzie's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm right here."

"Who's Mana?" Lizzie asked the magician.

"Don't worry about it right now." Her guardian replied, narrowing his eyes, as Bakura walked in. He recognized the other boy with him as Espa Roba. "Tell me that's not his lawyer..."

"Nope! That's Espa!" Lizzie hopped off the bench, and ran to greet Espa, and her brother. "Hi, guys!"

"Lizzie! It's so good to see you!" Espa hugged her gently, then stood back, as Bakura knelt to do the same.

"I miss you, Lizzie...I hope the judge will let you come stay with me now."

"Yeah......" Lizzie frowned, releasing Ryou, as Mokuba approached. "Will Mokuba still be able to be my brother?"

"Of course I will!" Mokuba assured her.

"You shouldn't tell her things that we don't know for sure." Bakura scolded softly. He knew Lizzie would believe anything the Kaibas said to her. "Besides, she wouldn't be able to. She'd have to be living with me."

Lizzie looked from one to the other. "And they're going to ask me who I want to live with? I don't think I can choose, Ryou... I love you all."

Bakura sighed deeply, patting her head. "I know you will make the right decision, Elizabeth. Even if it means making a hard one."

"That's right." Espa told her with a smile. "Maybe when this is all over, you can come visit Jonathan and Chris again. They really miss you being around."

"I'd like that..." Lizzie replied softly, as Mokuba took her hand to lead her back over to Seto.

Espa watched them go, shaking his head. "It's not right, making a child decide." He was worried. Lizzie seemed to be really attached to the Kaibas, and they to her.

"Did you see the nonsense she was wearing?" It was Yami Bakura who spoke now. "Such foolishness for a child her age."

"I'm afraid she might be quite comfortable with it, Yami..." Bakura replied, his head lowered. "And it is with all my heart that it is not the only thing she thinks about when she makes her choice."

"Nonsense." The yami muttered. He wasn't talking to Bakura though. He'd caught sight of the Dark Magician, who'd mouthed that Mana was around. "Let her be around." He mouthed back, snarling. Pharaoh Atemu might have appointed those foolish cards as her guardians, but I, being her second custodial guardian must see that she isn't harmed. Not that I care....... The last thought caused him to sneer. The truth was, despite the way it seemed, Lizzie meant a great deal to him as well. He disappeared to find out where this Mana was.

The hearing began shortly after that, with each of their lawyers presenting their cases. Barley did really well in Seto's opinion, but Bakura's lawyer was surprisingly powerful too. Then it was time for Elizabeth to talk to the judge. The eleven-year-old looked at Mokuba and Seto, then Ryou. She shook her head. "I can't...."

"Sure you can." Seto replied warmly. "Follow your instinct."

"Right." Mokuba encouraged. "And when it's all over, we can go to Fi's for dinner."

"Listen to me, Lizzie. You have to make a good decision, for your safety." It was Wheeler, who'd been around since the hearing started. Of course, no one but Lizzie could see or hear her guardians except for Yami Bakura. "I'll go with you into the chamber, if you want me to.."

"I do." Lizzie whispered softly, getting up. With one last glance at her two families, she walked into the judge's chambers, clinging to an invisible swordsman's hand.

"Well now, Elizabeth. It's just you and me having a friendly conversation. Are you feeling a little nervous?"

Lizzie nodded slowly. "A little."

"Well, that's to be expected. Tell me, Lizzie. Are you happy with Mr. Kaiba?"

"Yes I am. I love him and Mokuba very much. He takes very good care of me." Lizzie answered truthfully.

"But you understand that your brother Ryou Bakura wants you to come and stay with him again don't you? In most cases, we award custody to the people whom we see fit to raise the child in question. In this case, it's you. This is unusual case though. Here we have two people who are more than qualified to raise you. So I will be basing my decision on what you have to say. It could be that neither will be taking you home today.

Lizzie's eyes widened. "But where will I go?"

"I'll get to that if it comes up. Hopefully you will live with either Mr. Kaiba or Mr. Bakura before today is over. Now, how do you feel about living with your brother again?"

"I want to, but....I'll miss Myra and Anna."

"Who are they?"

"Seto's cooks. They're very good at what they do." Lizzie smiled thinking about Myra's cupcakes.

"I see." Judge Markham smiled. "Do you think you can ever live with your brother Ryou the way you had to live before?"

"I......I don't know. I like living with the Kaibas. I still love Ryou, but it won't feel right, sleeping in a different bed after all these months."

"But you would live with Ryou if you had to?"

"Yes." Lizzie felt Wheeler's hand on her shoulder. "I'm so confused, Your Honor.."

"It's expected. You may go now, Elizabeth. Thank you for talking to me." She opened her door for the girl, and watched sadly as Elizabeth walked back out to Seto.

"Well, what happened? Are you coming home with us?" Mokuba asked as soon as he saw Lizzie come back in.

"I don't know....." Lizzie replied shakily. "I did my best, but I don't know what she's going to do." She looked up when the judge took her seat.

"After careful consideration, this court has decided that guardianship of Elizabeth Bakura will temporarily be given to Child Services of Domino City. Until further notice, the aforementioned child will remain in foster care until such times a better guardian can be appointed."

"This is an outrage!!" Seto growled. "How can you not make a choice?!"

"Mr. Kaiba, after talking with Elizabeth it was clear that the girl is not of a stable mind set to make a decision at this time. After several more questions, it also became apparent that Elizabeth is not certain herself whom she wants to live with. She seems torn, and manipulated in several ways. Court is dismissed." The judge left them all to talk amongst themselves.

Kaiba walked over to Bakura, looking apologetic. "I'm truly sorry, Bakura."

"It's all right. I sort of expected it." The British boy closed his eyes briefly, then looked over at Elizabeth, who was in tears, while Mokuba held her.

"I did something wrong, didn't I?" Lizzie asked Mokuba.

"No, of course you didn't." Seto told her, coming back to her. "You were honest, Lizzie,and that's what counts." He sighed, as one of the social workers he recognized from previous hearings about Lizzie approached. "Where will they be sending her?"

"I'm not sure, Mr. Kaiba. Someone will contact both Mr. Bakura and you when we know." The man replied, kneeling to Elizabeth's level now. "You have to come with me now, Elizabeth."

"I know." Lizzie let go of Mokuba's hand, and slowly walked away with Mr. Tate. She was familiar with him from previous encounters. "Can I stay with Rex Raptor?" She asked now, swallowing hard. "I'd rather stay with him than in an orphanage."

"I believe we can have that arrange, Elizabeth. We'll have to double check with him."

Lizzie smiled a little. At least she'd be with someone she knew well. Rex and Espa had often babysat her together until Espa got a job working at Bakura's store. Then it had become just Rex in most cases. Rex could appear to be rough on the outside, but the real deal with him was that he liked young children. Elizabeth liked Rex a lot too. "I hope he'll say yes."

"I do too, for your sake." Tate told her with a fond smile. Inside, his heart was breaking. He hated this part of his job. He'd been taken away from his family too when he was a child. He knew how she must be feeling. "Shall we stop and get a burger on the way?"

"No thanks, Mr. Tate. I'm not hungry." Lizzie replied softly as they pulled away from the courthouse in his car.

(A/N:A quick thank you to Desi for helping me characterize my Duel Monster cards. Credit for Dark Magician's character goes to her, and I would never have pulled it off without her.

Thanks also to everyone's been reading this so far. I am forever grateful.)