Title: Curse in the Heart of the Cards

Author: Eyes of Pearl

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing or Yugioh. They belong to their respective owners.

It seems so long ago, but I am suffering from writer's block so hopefully working on some of my old stories will stimulate my muse. (lol)

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Previously:

Kaiba and Quatre went to the museum and there they met Dr. Amy Mizuno and the enigmatic Dr. Serena Tsukino, the Egyptian expert. Serena hinted to Kaiba that the answers to his questions lies in the past and elaborated upon a curse associated with the blank card found in the Millennium Item. Kaiba realized that Serena may be hiding part of the truth from but before he could get any more answers, she had slapped him and left.

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Chapter 4

Yugi Moto could sense that the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle was troubled. There was a presence of dread in the back of the conscience. "Would you not tell what is wrong, Yami?"

"It is nothing, Yugi. I am sorry for worrying you."

"You don't have to be sorry, but it must be something important if you are so restless."

"There are parts of my past that are hidden from me and lately, after Isesu's disappearance I have been hearing a calling. The voice sounds so familiar as though she is ..."

"So it is a female? What does she say?"

"She is speaking a high form of Egyptian, a language privy only to the Pharaoh and his court. Yet she speaks it fluently and talks of salvations and upcoming duels."

"Duelling? So she could be somebody from your past.... Hmmm... I'm not sure if this will help but Tea sent over a ticket for the upcoming opening of the Egyptian Exhibit. Maybe, you can find some more clues there."

"Yes, perhaps, I will go again."

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"Well, how did it go last night, Kaiba?" asked Quatre as he stepped through the metal automatic doors of Kaiba's top-floor office.

Kaiba gave something of a grunt in response to the blonde's question. Quatre was undeterred by the lack of response, instead he took the leather seat across the desk and produced two champagne-coloured envelopes.

"Winner, last time you handed me with a stack of envelopes, you brought nothing but confusion."

"This time, it may bring you some relief."

Kaiba grunted again and pulled out the contents and found them to be tickets cordially inviting them to the opening of the Egyptian Exhibit at the Museum.

"Dr. Serena Tsukino would be on hand for the unveiling and Amy ... cough Excuse me ... I mean Dr. Mizuno send these over by urgent messenger."

Kaiba raised an eyebrow at his associate who turned slightly pink like a child who had been caught grabbing an extra cookie. Still, Quatre interpreted the look to be an agreement but also as a curt invitation to leave. On his way out though, Quatre heard a faint question from the older man. "Do you believe in destiny, Winner?"

Taken aback by the abruptness of the question, Quatre turned back and realized that Kaiba was serious about getting a response. "I believe that we are here to play a role and that we are dictate by many things. The actions of my past makes up who I am today. There are things that I am ashamed of and hope never to repeat, but I have learned from them and have forgiven myself. I think that is the most important part - to forgive and move on. You ask about destiny ... I think it is in everybody's future to live life and find happiness no matter the cost."

All the while Quatre thought about the time in space when he lost control by the Zero System and destroyed numerous colonies hoping to stop the war. He was not totally himself then, but it is a part of him that he had learned to deal with. Now, looking at Kaiba, Quatre hopes that he too will learn from his past.

Kaiba sat in silence and he barely heard the silent departure of his business partner. 'He had always been plagued by his past whether it was growing up in an orphanage or to live under the shadows of his step-father. His past was nothing but depictions of struggle. Now here he was at the height of his prime and the past, some 5000 year-old history is coming back to haunt him. Learn from his past? Learn about what, that he was some Egyptian high priest? Perhaps, that was his curse, his past ...'

He turned the cream envelope in his hand as his eyes drifted back to the computer screen before him. He had been analyzing the edges of the blank card. There were marking written in an ancient form of high Egyptian, only the House of the Royal Court would have knowledge of the phonetics of course. Kaiba himself, did not know the history but he was certain that he understood the message on the card. How the Preventers fail to see such distinct text, he did not know.

"I hold the secrets to the past. Withholding the knowledge until the two shall draw. For I shall bring upon salvation and the destruction to their demise. This is my curse until the balance is restored."

Kaiba narrowed his ice-blue eyes at the words and muttered, "I shall put an end to this ..."

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"Well, I send Quatre the tickets," said Amy to her blonde friend who was fumbling with some documents on her desk.

Serena looking up, smiled knowingly at her colleague but could not help but tease, "I didn't know that we are on a first-name basis already."

"Well, after my conference we happen to bump into each other. You know, Kaiba Corp is so close to my conference hall. Then we just talked for a long time and then we decided to meet later on to talk some more. Everything was so natural. Why, Serena, do you think I did the wrong thing?"

"No of course not, Amy. I am so happy for you. Love is supposed to feel natural, like you are willing to give up everything including yourself for that someone you love."

"Serena, I had no idea. You seemed like you speak from experience."

"Ancient-old lessons, Ami, but never mind that, we must find you a dress for tonight."

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It was a beautiful dress indeed, as Dr. Amy Mizuno emerged from the limo on the arm of Quatre Rebarba Winner in two. The soft backless midnight blue with rhinestones embroidered around the chest area and down the side of the dress complimented the classic white suit of Quatre. As the two mingled with the guests, they kept close watched for their respective colleagues.

"I was sure to tell him that it was six thirty," said Quatre as he tried to spot the head of Kaiba Corp.

Amy who was standing near him with her arm looped through his, was also in a similar predicament. "I wonder where Serena is? She is the main attraction of tonight's event. She can't possibly be late!"

Even as she uttered those words, the lights dimmed and a series of spotlight was directed towards the stage. Smoke emitted from the sides of the podium. The backdrop behind the stage, revealed a magnificent miniature temple, a rendition of course. Dr. Serena Tsukino emerged from within, adorned in an ancient Egyptian rob, creamy beige with various colourful beads and plated jewelery. She walked towards them but her footsteps made hardly a sound for she seemed to walk above the air. When she took the microphone, the crowed erupted into applause. Just as she was about the speak, a sudden rumbling from outside interrupted the proceedings. Quatre, for one immediately recognized that it was one of Kaiba Corp's helicopters. 'It seems that Kaiba timed a grand entrance as well.' he though wearily.

Kaiba had always been known for his public display of decorum and the crowd was not disappointed as he descended from several feet in the air from the helicopter. His gale blue eyes was locked in contact with the myriad foamed colour orbs of Serena Tsukino. "Please give around of applause to Mr. Seto Kaiba. Tonight shall proves to be a night to remember."

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She knew that tonight would be the night, as she gazed into the depths of Kaiba's blizzard tormented eyes, but they revealed no secrets to her. It was the calm before a storm. She smiled to herself, as she recalled a time when she could decrypt the barrier that he had erected around himself. As she turned towards the crowd, she could feel his gaze trying to break down her wall of secrets, but she concentrated on delivering her speech.

Kaiba had timed his entrance impeccably and he was rather disturbed by the eyes that met him. He was rather annoyed that she smirked at him, the same expression that she used whenever she hid a secret from him. 'Who did she think she is?! I am Seto Kaiba, dammit! Not some mumble jumble High Priest from a 5000 year old story!'

He made a curt greeting to Winner and raised his eyebrows slightly at his date. 'The doctor' he thought. He said nothing at her greeting but rather, he listened to Dr. Tsukino's story about the hieroglyphics.

"The Museum is really excited at the generous donation to the Egyptian Exhibit. Many of these artifacts date back to over 5000 years. They are the remnants of past events and perhaps, as a historian, I can say that it is a vision of a possible future. History tends to repeat itself in some form or another. Here the hieroglyphics spoke of a single battle between the Pharaoh and his most trusted advisor and confidant for honour, duty and love. It was love that drove them apart but duty brought them together in a duel to defend honour. Duelling is sacred deed and it would tolerate any interference.

"What consequences would that be?"

"It was never written in the language of the Hieroglyphics, Mr. Kaiba, but it was hinted that a curse would undoubtedly be laid for this forbidden act."

She spoke no more, except to give an enigmatic smile. She clapped her hands twice as the light returned. The guests mingled for refreshments and dancing. Serena spoke briefly with Amy before Quatre interrupted and politely escorted Amy to the dance floor. Serena smiled and waved off Amy's apology. She found herself face to face with Kaiba himself and without a word, he swept her into his arms and led her to the dance floor.

Kaiba did not know what came over him. He only knew that everything felt so right. It was as though they had done this numerous times before subconsciously. He wrapped his arms around her waist to a small part of her lower back. His hand fitted like a mould into hers while she snaked the other hand around his neck. In his mind, Kaiba found himself in another time and place ... with marble halls lit by fire pits. He was in a chamber adorned with silks and expensive rugs. In his arms was the women from his previous visions, and they were dancing near the balcony with the moonlight peering through the veil of satin sheets in the room.

"I missed you."

speechless

"You know what we are doing is forbidden. He would not approve."

speechless

"You have nothing to say to that?"

"You should know by know that I always get what I want, no matter the costs. I will not give up anything without a fight."

"Then a fight you shall have."

"I won't lose you. I will get you back."

"I know and I shall always wait for you in the moon but he is my brother...."

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Kaiba snapped out of his reverie and he found Serena starring at him as she said, "What did you see in your vision?"

"What was your brother?" He was sure that the woman was Serena Tsukino. When she did not answer, he grabbed her by the shoulders and faced her to look into his eyes. "The Pharaoh? What is this curse? Tell me!"

They had danced away from the rest of the party into a partially lit room. "Kaiba, I didn't think that was your style, harassing a woman like that?"

It was then that both Serena and Kaiba realized that they weren't alone in the room and they both cried out simultaneously, "Yugi!" "Yami!"

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End of Chapter 4

Please read and review and let me know what you think. Also, if you guys wouldn't mind reading "In the Face of Darkness", my sm/lotr vignette, I would really appreciate it. Anyways, until next time, peace!!