Sarah: Yes, I know it's been a while! -;;; I've been having problems off line, so "Asayake" was kinda put on the back burner. Anyway, here we go again!

Yami found himself carrying Koujo into the Castle of Hope. He didn't know why- he'd tried to go to the Castle of Light, but ended up here. It didn't matter, really. He could get her the help she needed at either place.

"Pharaoh?" Yami turned to see Koujo's Forgiving Maiden standing behind him.

"Forgiving…"

"Please," she interrupted. "Call me Kai. Follow me." Kai led Yami down the hall to Koujo's room. Yami set the girl on her bed, then sat down in a chair next to her. After a moment, he buried his head in his hands, the memory of Shadi's cruel game coming back to him…

Koujo's eyes widened as she looked at the man in front of her… as she looked at her father. Where had he come from? He hadn't been up here earlier… at least she hadn't seen him, not since the game had started.

"Dad?" she asked, uncertainly, not sure if it was really him or not. Yami narrowed his eyes at her, scowling.

"Don't call me that." Koujo let out a gasp. Seconds later, three of Koujo's Ushebti statues showed the true weakness of her heart- they shattered, all the pieces falling to the street below.

That wasn't all he remembered… when it seemed that Koujo had lost, when it seemed that she was going to give up…

"I'm not giving up," she said. "I'm following the third rule of gaming." Shadi looked at her, confused.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "What is this third rule?"

"Never show your trump card until the end." Shadi tossed his head back, laughing hysterically.

"Trump card?! You have no trump card, Princess!" Koujo looked over her shoulder at him and smiled.

"Of course I do... but since you've failed to think of it, it's obviously something you've never seen." Shadi shook his head.

"There is nothing I've failed to think of," he said. "But it would seem that you are going to die here tonight." He looked at Illusion Yami and pointed to the pit. "Roll the puzzle! Send her to the shadows!" The illusion didn't move. "Did you hear me!? DO IT!" The puzzle never fell to the ground. Instead it began to vanish... as did the illusion of Yami. "What?!"

"I trust my father." Shadi looked over to see Koujo glaring at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "He may not seem to remember me," she said. "But deep down, a part of him does. That part of him still loves me..." Her eyes narrowed. "And that part of him won't let me die."

Yami shook his head. He didn't understand… how did she have so much faith in him? How, after all he'd done, after all he'd said… how could she?

"You know, she loves you very much." Yami looked up at Kai, confused. "You've always questioned how she does," the monster continued. "Look, I know the whole destiny thing says I shouldn't do this, but you wanna hear a story?" Yami blinked in confusion, but soon nodded his head.

"...Sure?" Kai smiled.

"It was when Koujo was 15... not long before she died…"
Flashback

Koujo spun her staff in front of her a few times before pointing it at Sorcerer Seto, a cocky look on her face. She knew her teacher hadn't had a very good day, so in this match, he'd give it his all.

"Bring it on, Onshi," she said teasingly. Seto eyes narrowed and he darted forward, swinging his staff. Koujo blocked his attack, thrusting him back. Seto swung his staff at her head, smirking.

"Let's see you get out of this one, Princess!" Get out of it, she did: Koujo swooped down, avoiding his staff and nailing him in the stomach with her own. Seto gasped for air then thrust his hand forward, blasting Koujo in the chest. She went flying, but managed to firmly plant the end her staff into the ground. She swung around it and kicks Seto in the chest, causing him to fall backwards. Seto eyes flashed angrily as he got to his feet.

"My ka," he murmured, closing his eyes. "Help me now..." His eyes opened, glowing brightly. " Shiroi Ryu! The White Dragon!" His staff glowed blue as he lunged forward. "White Lightning!" Seto blasted Koujo, but not before a single thought crossed her mind.

"I could call my own... but if Exodia kills White Dragon... Onshi dies…"

Seto eyes stopped glowing and he dropped to his knees, panting a little.

"Never done that before," he said weakly. "So it worked..." Suddenly, he realized what he had done, that he'd allowed the White Dragon to attack Koujo. "Koujo?!" There was no answer. He looked up, his eyes scanning his surroundings. He finally found her- her limp, lifeless body was laying on the ground about fifty feet away from him. "SHIT!"

Yami was walking down hall, heading to see how Koujo's lessons were going, when he heard Seto curse.

"Ah, what did he do now…?" Yami came into the room, a puzzled look on his face. Seto was standing in the room, holding something in his arms, covered in his cloak. "Seto, what's wrong?" Seto looked at him

"I…" he stammered. "I found a peasant girl in the streets. The Tomb Robber got a hold of her." He shifted the bundle in his arms, praying Yami would buy it. "I didn't want to tell you because you'd exaggerate the situation." Yami narrowed his eyes.

"Seto," he said. "I've know you since I was ten. You'd leave the girl behind if it didn't concern you." He moved over to Seto. "Tell me the truth." Seto raised an eyebrow.

"Do you promise not to kill me?" Yami blinked a couple times, then nodded.

"Of course." Seto sighed and removed the cape. "Koujo!" cried Yami, taking his daughter in his arms. "Seto, what the hell did you do to her?!"

"We were in a lesson," Seto stammered. "And the White Dragon took me over and…" Yami glared at him, but said nothing as he pushed past him, taking Koujo to her room. He laid her down on her bed, tucking her in under her blankets.

"Koujo," he whispered. "My Little love… please be all right…"

End Flashback

"Forgive me, Kai," Yami said. "But I don't see what this has to do with my questioning of Koujo's love for me." Kai smiled.

"Truthfully, Pharaoh," she said. "It has nothing to do with that. Koujo woke up a short time later, you and Sorcerer Seto had words and that was about it." Her smile widened. "I just thought you should hear the story." With that, she walked out. Yami watched her, puzzled.

"Okay…"

"Okay, what?" Yami looked down to see Koujo looking up at him, confused.

"When did you wake up?" he asked.

"About the time you said 'okay,'" came the reply. Koujo pulled the blankets off of her and got to her feet.

"What do you think you're doing?!" asked Yami. "You just collapsed back there!"

"I'm fine, Phar…"

"How many times do I have to ask you not to call me that?!" A sly smirk appeared on Koujo's face.

"At least once more, Pharaoh." She started to walk out, but stopped. "Thanks, by the way."

"Thanks?" asked Yami. "For what?" Koujo turned to him and smiled.

"For being my trump card- I knew if I failed, you'd save Saya." She walked out… leaving Yami alone in her room.

"Thank you for your faith… my Little love."