*counts reviews* one…two…three! Yay! I can posty the next part now! Hachaa! We're getting' close to the end of the story, but don' worry, they's still a few more chaptas! By the way, if you are wondering why I am talking like this, it's because I've been hanging out too much with Joey. I guess that's what happens when you start writing a fic about him!

Joey: You say it like i's a bad thing…

Robin: Well, not BAD, persay…

Joey: Whaaa…?

Robin: Nevermind. Just give them the disclaimer.

Joey: She don't own nothin'. Still. Did you really think that would have changed since the last chapter?

Robin: I own Delaney! *mutters something under her breath*

Part Sixteen

            The next morning, Seto awoke to the annoying yet strangely pleasant sounds of birds chirping. Delaney was still cuddled next to him, and he couldn't help but smile a little. He looked around with sleepy eyes.

            How...did we get back outside? he thought. He felt Delaney stir beside him.

            "Seto...?" she said, still half-asleep. He looked at her, but didn't answer.

            "If this is a dream, please don't ever wake me up," she said quietly.

            It did feel like a dream. And not those strange nightmares that made you feel disconnected from your body. This was like some kind of enchanted dream. Seto felt like he had died and gone to heaven.

            Although how I would get in so fast is a complete mystery...

            Delaney looked up at him with eyes that still weren't quite all the way open.

            "Now what?" she asked.

            "Now what what?" Seto replied.

            "Ohhh...don't do that. It's too early," Delaney complained.

            Seto chuckled. "What's wrong with what we're doing right now?"

            "Absolutely nothing," Delaney said grinning. "But I think it will be kind of strange if people pass by and see two teenagers just sitting here in the middle of the woods." She shifted around a little more, right before she let out a shout.

            "Ouch!" She touched her shoulder gingerly. It still had the strip of cloth tied to it, and the material was stained with blood that had soaked through.

            "Hey, careful," Seto said. He gently untied the rag and took it off her shoulder. The wound had started to heal, but was still caked with old blood.

            Delaney glanced at the injury and wrinkled her nose. "Gross," she muttered.

            "Come on," Seto said, and helped her to her feet. "I think I know somewhere we can go to help that."

            Delaney looked around. "I just hope you know your way out of here."

            "Of course I do." Seto looked around, too. At least...I should. He retraced his path from the wrecked temple to the forest in his mind. Ok, so...east should get us out of here and to the beach. Good enough for me.

            He looked up at the sky. Judging from the remnants of pale pink on the clouds, it was still morning, so all they had to do was follow the sun.

            "Follow me," he said, gently taking her hand. She followed behind him, for once devoid of complaints. They made their way through the thick foliage, emerging from the wood less than an hour later.

            "See, that wasn't so bad," Seto said.

            Delaney smacked at her arm. "Insects not included," she muttered. Seto bit his lower lip to keep from chuckling. Somehow, Delaney had managed to attract every variety of mosquito and other forest insect known to mankind. Her arms and legs each had several little red bumps, and Seto saw her fist repeatedly clench and relax, trying to resist the temptation to scratch.

            "I bet it's because you're so sweet," he said jokingly.

            "Better watch out for the competition," Delaney replied.

            "I'm offended that you would compare me to an insect," Seto retorted.

            Delaney put her arms around his neck. "Well, sometimes, you do creep me out," she said with a grin. Then she turned and headed for the ocean's edge.

            Seto followed. Delaney stopped at the edge of the water and let the waves roll up over her feet. She stared out at the water, a faraway look on her face. Seto couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking about, although he could definitely make some guesses.

            "Seto?" she asked softly.

            "Yes?" he answered.

            She turned to look at him. "How did we end up in that...wherever we were?"

            Seto looked out over the water, and admired how the wave crests glittered when the sunlight struck them. "We...I uh..." he couldn't seem to articulate what exactly had happened. That in itself was fairly uncharacteristic of him, he loved to brag. Somehow, he just didn't feel it would be a good idea...

            Delaney looked at him, her deep green eyes soft. Her fingers traveled down and held against his, intertwining ever so slightly. He felt such a sense of comfort with her. He didn't have to pretend to be the hard-hearted person that everyone thought he was. Instead he felt himself driven to be what she imagined him to be: just a sweet, humble, average guy. He liked that- a lot. Telling her what happened just didn't seem right, but when she came close to his ear and whispered, "Please, tell me what happened...", that's when he broke down.

            "You were...attacked by the dragon," he started. His eyes became glassy with the memories of his own emotions.

            "How did I get back?" she asked gently, apparently trying to not prod to far.

            Seto blushed a little. "I, uh, used a magic card..." he stammered. "I used Monster Reborn to bring you back..."

            "Monster Reborn?" she asked. "Isn't that impossible to use here?"

            "Almost. A person can only use it if they get through the Dragon Lair..." He stopped, realizing that he had just spilled the entire beans.

            "The Dragon Lair?" Delaney asked, a little confused.

            Seto sighed. Might as well let her know. He explained what the level was, how to find it, and what had happened to him inside.

            Delaney looked at him with wide eyes. "You did that all, just for me?" she asked, completely stunned.

            Seto felt himself getting a little red. He couldn't even answer verbally; he just kind of nodded his head.

            She smiled at him, an expression warmed with gratitude and admiration. "No one's ever done anything like that for me," she said. "Heh, not even close."

            Seto chuckled. She looked so sweet, he felt his blood getting heated again. Somehow, simple things like her gestures and her tiniest features, he had been able to memorize. He was so enamored with her that he almost couldn't wait to get out of this game, find out if she was really just like this. But then again, he wouldn't be able to bear leaving this beautiful place, to leave her at all. He wanted to freeze this one moment in time, to carry it around with him like the locket he wore beneath his shirt.

            Delaney stepped closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. They stood there a long while, gazing at the ocean's majesty. In Seto's mind, it still paled in comparison to Delaney. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he had ever felt so...content. Or if he ever had at all.

            Seto took Delaney into his arms and looked into green eyes again. He could get easily drowned in their ocean-like depths. She looked at him, and he could tell she felt the same way. He just knew. He closed his eyes, and leaned in to kiss her...

            ...and then she was no more. The ocean fell away, the sky and the clouds disappeared, and Delaney vanished as well, right before him. Then the ground gave way, and he felt himself falling a loooong way down....