Diclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.

"Mito?," she asked, "Mito, it can't be you. You are supposed to be with the crusades."

"I am back, now," he said approaching her, "I left the crusades. I was no longer happy trying to turn barbarians into saints."

"How did you find me?," she asked still trying to assure her mind what her eyes were seeing.

"Of course, the first place I went was home," he explained, "I was so excited to see you again, but father was thankfully gone. Mother was frantic. She had not been able to find him. She told me about the war Kaiba had raged on the palace. She then told me about you. Where you had gone, and how Kaiba had tried to force you to marry him. I spoke against her. I was furious that they had gone against my little sister's wishes. It was then that I said something I probably should not have."

"What?," she asked him.

He put his head down in shame, "I told her that our father was probably dead, and maybe it was for the best. Now at least he would not be chastising the family name by associating himself with vermin. She cursed me, and sent me from the house. I then came here in search of you."

"It has been five years since I have seen you," she said slowly, "You just left me that day. Why did you not take me with you? Everything was fine, then without warning you pack up and leave. I have never truly healed from that day. You ripped a piece of me away with you that I have never gotten back. It has been five long years. How do I know that you are still the same Mito I remember?"

He walked up to her and said, "You are going to have to trust me on that one. I know we have been separated for too long, but you must hold faith in me for I never forgot the sister I left behind. I am sorry for any pain that I caused you, but you must understand that I could not have taken a such a young girl to where I was going."

"I am not weak, Mito," she spat back, "You above all should know that. How am I supposed to forgive you, and just invite you back into my life out of the clear blue?"

"I am truly sorry, Ateyda," he said putting his hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away, "Please, Ateyda, I do not know how else to make it up to you. I know it was hard for you. I sometimes regret what I did. I ran away from my problems instead of facing them head on. I sometimes wonder what would have happened had I stood up against father, and taken you to live somewhere else with me. You must understand, though, that is in the past. What is done cannot be undone. All I have left to say is that I am sorry for any of my mistakes that have affected you. You are all I have left, and even though you may not accept me right away, I will not give up, because you are my sister and are everything to me."

She felt her frown soften. She looked into his eyes to see if he truly meant what he was saying. She slowly walked forward, and embraced him in a hug.

He hugged her back and said, "I have missed you so. You have grown so much since I last saw you."

She pulled away, and looked down at the ground. "There is something you need to know," she said, "I have done something you may see as condemnable, but you must hear me out first."

"Ateyda," he said pulling her face up, "I could not shun you away."

"You should listen to me before you say such a thing," she said, "In the battle, father was going to kill one of my best men while he was down. I told him to spare him, but he would not listen. He still charged at him, and. . . I. . ." He pulled away, and took a step back. "Please, Mito," she begged him, "I am sorry, but I had to. I could not let him."

"I am not upset about that," he said looking back at her, "I am upset that you were ever forced to make a decision like that. Father was worse than I expected."

"He changed after you left," she told him, "He wanted to pretend you did not exist. He was angry that you left the family just as he was angry when I left. I sometimes think he wanted us all to stay to bring the credit of our victories upon him."

"I should have known he would take it that far," he said. He walked up and hugged her again, "I'm sorry I left you with such a man."

"Ateyda?," a deep voice came from the doorway. Ateyda opened her eyes to see Yami staring at them in confusion. She saw a flash of jealousy as he looked over at Mito, but that quickly changed as he turned around to face Yami. Mito and Ateyda looked terribly similar.

"Yami," she said pulling Mito forward to the Pharaoh, "This is my brother, Mitonen."

"Brother?," he asked looking Mito up and down.

Mito bowed down, "It is an honor to be in your presence, your majesty."

Yami smiled, "There is no need for such pleasantries. If you are who Ateyda says you are, then you are family now." Mito got up and returned Yami's smile.

"Mito was in the crusades," Ateyda explained, "He has finally returned."

"I hope he will then oblige to stay with us in the palace," Yami said.

"It would be an honor," Mito answered bowing his head once more. Yami motioned forward a few palace servants to show Mito to his room. Yami then took Ateyda's hand and led her out into the gardens.

"I have summoned family to come to the wedding," he told her as they walked the paths through the exotic flowers and beautiful trees, "I am glad some of yours will be able to attend. They should be here within the next week."

"So the wedding will be at the week's end?," she asked him.

"Yes," he replied, "Of course, it will only be family that will attend. Even most of the palace's staff does not know of it. It is not that I do not trust them. It is that I do not trust those around them. I know Kaiba is still keeping a close watch despite his loss. I will not let him disturb us that day."

"I have spoken to Lamasse about this," she said, "I know he will have every guard on duty."

"That is good," he said, "Kaiba will pay soon, but I do not want to dwell on him. Tell me more about this brother of yours."

"Well, he is my only sibling," she started. She did not know how to exactly explain everything to him, but she would do her best. She continued, "He was the first born. Father always wanted to teach him how to fight and be a winner, but Mito never liked fighting. He was very calm and peaceful. Father was not always kind to Mito. He was angry that he would not put his heart into fighting. When I came along, he gave up on him and started teaching me. I, of course, have always loved it. Mito was always protective of me, but he hated how my father looked at him. My father saw him as a disappointment, and he often saw him as lower than me. It was when the crusades were leaving the country to try and teach peace to the barbarians, that he told father he was sick of him shunning his own flesh and blood. He then left, and I have not seen him until today. I did not think I would ever see him again. I figured the memory of our father would drive him out forever."

"Does he know about your father?," Yami asked.

"Yes," she answered, "I told him. I was afraid he would hate me for it. I know my father and he had their quarrel, but it was still his father. He said he understood, but I do not know if that is his true feelings."

"I'm sure it is," Yami said trying to put her at ease, "He has experienced your father's cruelty. I am sure he understands the situation that he forced you into that day."

"I hope so," she said watching the path pass under her feet, "I am so glad he is back, but all of this had been too much too fast. Kaiba, the battle, Mito, and though I want it more than anything, the pressures of our marriage is all coming down so fast. I feel like I'm going to split in two at any given moment."

She had her hands on her face to try and drown out some of the sun that was giving her a headache. Though, she thought it probably had less to do with it than anything. Yami stopped and pulled her into him.

"I know that a lot has happened within the last few weeks," he said as he let his fingertips glide across her cheek, "But I promise you that I will help you through anything that you need help with. You are trying to take on too many burdens. I know you are very independent, but there is nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it."

"I know," she said reluctantly. She hated depending on someone else. She felt that if she did, she was a burden upon them. She would watch the other women in her village constantly barrade the men for help with something they could do perfectly well on their own. They would try to act meek, and it made her cringe at them. They were weak and she could see it. She was always different, though. It always seemed when her and her brother were children, that their personalities should have been switched. She was always the daring tomboy while her brother was reserved and gentle. She then thought back on the day he left.

She was about fifteen, and was outside challenging the neighboring boys to a fighting match. Her brother came home from morning errands and took her to the side to speak with her.

"Ateyda," he began, "I need you to go to a friend's house for a while. Can you do that for me?"

"Why?," she asked him, but then saw the look in his eyes, "Mito, what is going on?"

"No questions," he said, "Ateyda I need to tell you something, but if I tell you, you must promise to then go to a friend's house. Ok?"

"Mito," she replied, "What are you talking about? Why are you acting so strangely?"

"Promise me," he said more forcefully.

"Alright," she said rubbing her arm where he gripped her a little too tightly, "I promise. Now what is it?"

"Our family is about to come forth against the Pharaoh with Seto Kaiba," he told her, "You know of the society that there have been rumors of. It is an alliance that Kaiba and our family have formed. I will not stand for this. I must make a stand. I just want you to know that even if I may not physically be here, I love you. I just want you to promise me that you will get out of here as soon as you can. Do you understand?"

She stared at him in disbelief. Their family make an alliance with Seto Kaiba? Seto was her brother's age, merely seventeen, so why would her family make an alliance with him? Why would her family rebel against the Pharaoh? "What do you mean if you are not here physically?," she asked him, "What are you going to do, Mito?"

"No more questions," he said, "Now, go. Don't stick around." He turned, and went into the house. She did not wish to go against his wishes, but she was not going to run away and not see what was going to happen to her brother. She went to a window on the side of the house and watched her brother approach their father.

"Father. . ." he began.

"Not now, Mitonen," he interrupted, "I have more important things to do than listen to your ramblings."

"No, father. I have something to say and you will listen," Mito said sternly. Ateyda was shocked and scared. Mito had never talked to their father or anyone else for that matter that way.

"Don't raise your voice to me," their father replied.

"I will say this," he replied, "I know about this treachery you are planning with Seto Kaiba. I will have none of it. The Pharaoh may be young, but he is wise just as his father was. I will not be any part of your rebellion. I am sick of you shunning me. I will not take any of this anymore!"

"How dare you!," his father spat, "You come into this house talking to me like that! I am the head of this family, and you should be thanking me on bended knee for even keeping you here! I have provided a roof over your head, and food in your belly! As head of this family, I say that you will be every part of this just as your sister will."

"Do not bring her into your hate," Mito seethed, "You may have taught her to fight, but ever since the day you first taught her to hit I have taught her about understanding. I have instilled in her the ability to think for herself and be independent. She does not have the same hate as you, because I have taught her to see past your lies and become a loving, caring person. That is something you could never hope to become!"

"You brainwashed my child?!," he screamed, "You filled her head with your soft nonsense! I should have known better than to let you even live under the same roof as her!"

"There is no brainwashing in telling her the truth!," he told his father, "Brainwashing is filling her head with your lies. You threatened to poison her, but I stopped that! It is a shame that she is forced to live people like you and mother. I know now, what my purpose of being born from you two was. It was to save her from your hate and malice. It was to keep her from descending down to your level! I am grieved everyday that I think my sister is exposed to a treacherous disease like you!"

"How dare you say such a thing!," he yelled at Mito, "Mitonen Layland! You talk of treachery, and you denounce your own roots! No son of mine would ever talk to me that way!"

"Maybe that is because you no longer have a son!," he screamed back. He then turned and walked out the door.

"You deceitful ingrate!," his father yelled at his retreating back, "If you want to shun this family, then we shall shun you back. You should never come back! You never existed! This is for the better you know! You were a thorn in my side since the day you were born!"

Mito ignored all the threats and insults. He mounted his horse, and started to ride away. Ateyda ran after him. "Please! Mito! Stop!," she screamed after him, "Mito! Don't leave! Mito! Stop!" He never once turned around or looked back. He just kept going. She kept trying to run after him, but soon he out paced her and he was shrinking in the distance. He left her standing in his settling dust with tears streaming down her face.

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