Master Of PuppetZ

Come crawling faster

Obey your Master

Your life burns faster

Obey your Master

Master

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN YGO! Nor the song – it's Metallica's…Well, that's the code.

FAB: No complicated openings, just a sincere request: Please Review! I don't really know what to think and where to take this idea, so if anyone is still reading this, leave a review and tell me what you think.

Master Of Puppets – Chapter 5 – Cruel Intentions

The rainy night became a stormy day, and as Crystal opened the refrigerator to discover there was nothing inside, she heard the roaring of thunders and saw the sparkles of the lightnings. /Oh great, I forgot I have nothing here, and that means I have nothing to eat again. Well, I'll try to make some tea./

After a meticulous search, it turned out that Crystal had totally nothing. /Yes, it is so homiletic. I should be rebuked harshly. Here I am and here is nothing, and I shouldn't forget what happened to me few days ago. This ordeal was far enough for me, and I don't want it to happen again. Today I should get some of my money, and I still have the bills to pay…Well, no breakfast – what's wrong? Except I promised Mokuba…/ Crystal left the empty kitchen to get prepared for work. /I hope I make it before it rains. And I hope Seto wouldn't ask me about breakfast./

The cold hit through her clothes as she crossed the streets, her legs were still somehow weak, but she felt much better. /Ok, today I need to start the new selecting system, and connect it with the 'Duel-Card-Databse'. I hate connecting systems – it's a nasty work that requires full concentration./ Crystal smiled as she remembered her teacher was going temporarily insane while checking the connection of systems his students did on the tests (We've got a problem here,) he used to say (Because it is too hard to follow, and students are not using punctual names. Well, I am checking these assignments till the baseball game begins. You need to have a list of priorities in life, you know…) he would laugh and write an extremely low mark on the paper in front of him. Then he used to change it.

Thick rain drops were falling as Crystal opened a blue umbrella. She carefully crossed the streets, the cars splashing dirty water from the puddles on the road and the mud hit the poor passers-by on the pavement. Crystal did her best to avoid them, and walked as quickly as she could.

The cold just grew when she got to the promenade of Domino River. A policeman stood near the barrier, and the wind blew the papers in his notepad as he talked with another man, writing details. Crystal heard "…I saw her lying there, stuck in the frost – and I didn't know what to do, but luckily Suzie was here with me, and she told me to call the police before she collapsed, and I did it as fast as I could." a tall man in a long brown coat said rapidly. He was sending frequent glances over to the ambulance, where a woman sat staring ahead, her face expressionless.

Crystal froze on her spot. When the policeman asked "When exactly did you saw the woman down in the river?" his voice was toneless. "Well, I don't know, but I presume it was a half an hour ago. Now can I go to see how Suzie is doing? I think she is in shock because of what we saw. That poor woman…What happened to her anyway? Do you think she just fell off?" asked the man, a concerned look on his troubled face. "We still can't answer this question. It requires investigation of all the details. Thank you mister, now off you go please." said the policeman, closing the notepad and then he opened his cell phone. "What do you have there, Brad? Any reports about a missing woman, age 20-25?...Are you sure? Well, we have to find out who she was…The doctors said she broke almost all of her BoNeZ when she fell down, and she lay in the frost for so long her circulation was just frozen inside her veins. According to them, she fell somewhere around 4:00 a.m. or something."

Crystal's hand on the umbrella was sweaty although a rough wind blew around her. She walked away, feeling sick. /What happened to that woman? Did she fell off the barrier to her horrible death? Or was there someone who pushed her, who made her fall down and die?.../ Crystal's stomach did a dangerous twist, and at that moment she was grateful she didn't eat anything for breakfast.

Two rough violet eyes followed her /I feel you are somehow uneasy, dear…Are you feeling so bad because of this useless human I killed yesterday night? Or shall I say – today's early morning? You didn't even know her name! Nor did I…/ Marik looked at Crystal getting away, stumbling lightly /And I see you are still too weak to resist me. I just need to calculate the exact day of my revolution, and very soon your power will be in my grasp, but until then…/ his eyes narrowed /You are always under my watching eyes…You can never escape…/ and his laugh caused some rain drops became black with hatred.

"Automatic synchronization?" said Crystal into the phone "Well, I think it is possible, if it fits to the dialog part in the Internet connection. Yet I think we should create an independent Net for this, Seto." she heard him typing something on the other line "Well, if you think it is the best then do it. We need to finish this as fast as possible. The programmers implemented already the functions you listed, and now we need to put the systems all together."

She nodded, holding the phone with her right hand and typing with her left "I'm trying now to arrange the superintendence part with the identification part, but it might take some time." she paused, reading some of her commands again "Ok, I think I'll let you concentrate," said Seto "We'll talk later, I have something here, hold on there." he said. He put the phone down and glanced at his 3,003 secretary with impatience "What do you want?" he asked angrily "Don't you see I'm busy here? Now what is it?"

"I-I'm sorry, mister Kaiba, but the letters…You said I bring th-them, and I-I didn't know it so I faxed them already, and now…" but he had enough "You know what?" he said maliciously "It is enough for today. You are fired, and that's definitely it. Now go away, I don't want to waste my time more than you already did it. Now go!" he said turning back to his screen, muttering something, and the young secretary, who knew it is useless to evoke another drama, left the office, closing the door behind her.

/What a day…/ She thought as she collected her things /Yesterday Mike left me, then Claira run away from the house and I didn't see her in the morning, and now this…/

Marik rested on Kaiba Corp.'s roof, placing his millennium items on the stiff concrete surface, letting the rain drops wash over the rustproof metal. /My millennium Rod…It feels like I haven't used it for ages…And here is the millennium Eye and the Ring I took from that stupid thief…The Necklace that previously belonged to my sister…Or my hikari's sister – shall I say – and she threw this item away after battle city, trying to be granted an atonement for her sins. Yet she never cared about Malik, and she arranged Battle City just to get the items and the god cards back. She cared for the ancient tradition more than for her brother…Well, I can understand it. But yet…My total sum is now 4 items – or 5, shall I say, because I know where I can find the millennium Ankh and it is going to be so easy to take it away…Well, it is enough./

Marik arranged the items in circle, and pulled out his deck of Duel Monsters cards. "Now…We will begin…" he said as he shuffled the cards and prepared.

He drew and placed five of them face down, arranged like an X inside the circle of the items. The items started to glow, a blinks of gold and orange danced from item to item through the circle, Marik waited till it stopped.

"Let's see what the cards are going to tell me about the day of my total demolition." said Marik as he turned over the first card. Winter Wind.

"Well, it is clear the day I'm looking for is a winter day, and the snow on this trap card shows it has to snow on that day…Let's check the next…" he mumbled, turning over the card on the right corner. Dark Wish.

"I use this magic card to take the attack points of one of the monsters on my opponent's side and add them to my life-points. It surely means that to open the gates of Hell I shall have the power of that girl…A pure power of the Queen Of Egypt. Well, as I said before, it is not a problem."

Marik turned the card in the upper left corner. The Heavens. His eyes narrowed.

"A danger? Someone is trying to ruin my plans? Well, I just have to watch it. I won't let anybody take the power of the girl away from me…Because it is mine! And even if I can't use it till one certain special day it doesn't mean somebody else can take it!" Marik quickly turned over the left lower card. The Rebirth.

"Hmm…I wonder…Does it tell me something about the day or about my plan? I think it is somehow connected to the day. I see a cross in the background…It reminds me about some stupid holy day those mortals love so much…It is called – erm – Christmas or something like this…My hikari told me once it is connected to their religion, and if the day I'm looking for is indeed that Christmas of theirs, then it is going to take place in a month." the smirk on his face grew psychotic "My dear girl, enjoy this time – because it is your last month to live…"

Marik put his hand on the card in the centre, ready to turn it over.

The Master Of Puppetz.

Thousands of souls hovered around the figure in the picture. The person who was painted there wore a black cloak with golden strings. His face wasn't visible yet a millennium eye glowed on his forehead. In his left hand he held hundreds of golden threads connected to the souls around him and in his right hand he held a metallic object, similar to the millennium Rod.

"And this," said Marik, eyeing the card "Is the end of the world."

Crystal carried a small bag full of groceries on her way back home. She visited the bank and paid some of her bills, dividing the others into 4-6 payments with normal interest. She paced, feeling calm than ever because of the paying of her dues and the fact she was going to eat a normal dinner.

Crystal bypassed a huge electric store. The note on the glass doors announced about a sale of MP3 players, ipods and CDplayers. TVs were placed in the display window, they were all set on the same program – evening news. Crystal stopped when she heard familiar words.

"A body of a woman was found in Domino River today. Apparently, the woman fell off the barrier of the promenade, yet the police are still investigating the case on the suspicion of a murder. The name of the woman was Claira Saliago, and she was…" but Crystal couldn't listen anymore. Her eyes widened as a photograph appeared on the screen. Claira's face shone from everywhere, hundred faces, on each screen. /She was so young…Why did it happened to her? I can't believe she just fell off – but who is cruel enough to throw a girl down to the river – to a certain death?.../

"The people in this world can be so cruel," she heard a voice near her, almost whispering in her ear. Crystal jerked on her place, moving her head to look at the person behind her. He wore a long white coat and white boots. His two different colored eyes stared right into her grey ones under waves of long, turquoise hair, and he had a weird necklace with big green gem around his neck.

"Who are you?" Crystal let out in a whisper "How did you know…?"

His smile only widened. "I know many things. I have lived enough to see the waves of evil covering this world. The people who once were sincere and rightful became dark and their malice spread over the world like poison. Many people are poisoned today, blind by the evilness in their black souls." he closed his strange eyes "But I pray no one else will be hurt or ever hit by the evil again. I pray everyone will find a place in the afterlife." he said /As long as I can help this humanity get there…/

Crystal backed away, carrying her bag with her /Who the Hell is he? And why is he talking like this? I don't like this guy – only Hell knows what kind of people are wandering here…He scares me, he has just read my thoughts – and I don't want to be around him for another moment./ She let out a small "Goodbye," and paced on the opposite direction as fast as she could. She could still feel his eyes on her back, almost making a hole through her.

She heard his voice, and froze on her place. "Don't worry, Saigo Crystal, your turn is coming."

She turned back with amazement "But how did you…?" yet the street was empty. /He…He just disappeared! I wonder who he was and how did he know my name! Well, I don't like this. I don't like this at all!.../ Crystal's face wore an worried expression while she was walking to her apartment. Since she was carrying a heavy bag she needed to use the elevator. She clung to the door and jumped out the minute it opened.

/I hate elevators!.../ she opened the door and got inside the living room. /Time to cook! I need to eat and forget all the freaky things that happened today./ The phone rang. /What now?.../ Crystal picked up the phone.

"Hey Crystal! Remember me? Mokuba!" said a cheery voice.

"Oh, Mokuba, it's you! I'm glad to hear you!...I am preparing dinner, don't worry!…Yes…Tomorrow? I don't know, maybe I can…Seto wants me to work with him?...After work-time is over? It's Ok, if he wants me to come…It sounds great! I will, Mokuba." she said.

"So you are coming tomorrow! I can't wait to see you!" said Mokuba from the other side. He smiled, signaling his older brother with a thumb up.

"I see you tomorrow, bye Mokie." said Crystal and put the phone back on its place. Mokuba did the same, and smiled to his brother "She is coming," he said and watched Seto typing on his lap top /And also, she called me Mokie…How did she knew it was my nickname? Seto doesn't call me like this anymore…/

"It is very good. I will be glad to work with her." said Seto /And I want to talk with her personally. I have to admit she brought back some of the memories I thought I lost. I can't stop thinking about her. She is even lonelier than me because I have Mokuba here, always with me. She needs us, and I think we might need her. Maybe she can bring something new to our life. Mokuba seems extremely interested in her, and as for me…Let's say I want to get to know her better./

"I will show her the holograms I programmed!" said Mokuba. Seto closed his eyes as an amused smirk crawled over his face "Those crooked creatures? Get real Mokuba, they are awful!" Mokuba seemed offended "No they are not! It is art, Seto! Art! My art!"

"I still think they are somehow distorted!" said the older one.

"You wish! They are good, and if you have to know, I'm going to program some new for tomorrow!" said Mokuba as he paced out of the room.

"You draw very well, Mokuba." Seto said, but his brother was already outside the room.

Crystal expected that some strange creatures screaming apocalyptic prophesies would land on her on the way to work, but she saw nobody. The streets were almost empty, and the morning sun colored the glasses of the windows in light orange. When Crystal got into Kaiba corp. building she saw Kaiba Seto pushing the button of the elevator.

"Good morning," she said shyly, looking away.

"Morning," he answered and then he said "Crystal, can you check the system you connected yesterday? I saw something strange there, it wouldn't work with the database for some reason."

"Of course. I saw it yesterday also but I didn't find out what was the whole thing about. I do it now." she said as they walked to his office.

After the computers were activated, the work was started. Seto typed on his lap top, checking the benefits of his company, and Crystal was allowed to use one of his other computers. She fell in love with the loading-speed of this computer and tested the system for couple of minutes.

"How was breakfast?" asked Seto suddenly. Crystal glared at him "It was alright. I don't skip meals, I eat normally."

"The doctor told me to ask you this question." said Seto "Before he started all over again with explanations about the digestion. I barely got out there alive." Crystal laughed "How's Mokuba? I think he is really excited because I'm coming today."

"Yes, I want to connect the systems today, and I want you to be there and help me. You know, I don't exactly remember how to do it since I haven't done it in awhile. But with you, I'm sure it will be fine. I saw your work, you are doing great." he said, typing again.

Crystal didn't look at him "I will do my best for you since you've helped me so much. I got to the bank yesterday, and I paid some of the things I needed." she checked the connection between the integrate part again. "Did you watch the news last night?"

Seto thought for a moment before typing again "No, I was too busy for this. I guess Mokuba watched it though. What, something happened?" he asked, reading again what he typed. "Well, a young girl died in Domino. She was found in the river. The police assume it happened a night ago." Crystal told him. "Really? I didn't hear about that. Did she fall off or something?"

"Well, the police think so," replied Crystal "But I don't think it is true. I'm afraid someone shoved her from the barrier." a shiver went down her spine as she thought about that kind of cold death. "It is possible. And very cruel." said Seto "Only Hell knows. There are some people that are ruthless enough to do these things." /Yet more disturbing is the thought of you falling down like that girl…Crystal can be in danger when she walks alone at night…I never thought about this…/

"Hey, I think something is working here! Seto, come and see!" he approached the computer, standing behind her and looking at the screen. Her caramel locks (I finally decided which color her hair is) were just nigh him, and he couldn't help but let his eyes drown in the soft color, the light smell of her shampoo hovering around him.

"You see, here I connected the integrate part and here I connected the synchronization. What do you think, Seto?" she asked, turning to him. He returned his eyes to the screen, reading her program /What had just gotten into me? She is so beautiful, it is hard to get my eyes off her. And she looks much better than after her starvation…I really believe she is getting better. And today she is going to spend the whole afternoon with Mokuba and me. Ok, this program is fine./ "Your program is alright. Now connect the identification part please, and I will tell someone to bring us an empty Duel-Disc so we can load and check it." Seto said, getting back to his place. He took the phone and his new 3,004 secretary answered immediately.

"Yes, mister Kaiba?" she said.

"Please tell Mike from the production department to bring me an empty duel disc to laboratory number 3." he said, and put the phone down.

"I will get it saved." said Crystal and backed-up the program.

"Crystal!" shouted Mokuba as she came into the large entrance hall, Seto coming right behind her, his eyes still attracted to her hair. Mokuba run into Crystal's arms, hugging her, almost causing her to fall back off. "Whoa, don't do this! I'm going to fall!" she laughed as she freed herself "You are heavy."

"Crystal!" he shouted again "I'm so happy you are here." she smiled at his obvious excitement and said "Yes, I came to work with your brother." then Seto interrupted them "But firstly Mokuba wants to show you something. I'll be waiting you in my office. I'll start loading the system now, and then we'll work." Mokuba stared at his brother. /Seto never loved my drawings…Now he wants me to show them to Crystal! I don't quite understand this, but I really want her to see them!.../ "Come on, Crystal!" said Mokuba "This way."

Seto was left to stare at them getting away /I guess I need to share the time with Mokuba …Well, let's see what she thinks about those crooked sketches of his…Yet he is trying…/ Seto rolled his eyes and made his way to his office, turning on the Master Computer and started over the load process.

"This place is huge! I don't remember being in this corridor last time," said Crystal "But I was unconscious then." Mokuba smiled "There are many rooms here, and we and Seto don't use more than half of them so you can get really lost here. I was lost once, but I always find my way. I think Seto could get lost here like a shot, but he never wanders. He is too busy, you know."

Mokuba led her into a special room. That room had four windows – two of them in the same wall and was full of light. Three computers were connected there, and a big sketch table. Pencils and inks were thrown everywhere, different types of colors in flasks stood on the table, and the shelves on the walls were full of drawing instructors and art books.

"I didn't know you were drawing!" Crystal exclaimed "May I see some of your pictures?" Mokuba smiled "That was what I intended to show you! Just sit there and watch!"

For the next half an hour Mokuba showed Crystal his creations. He was drawing fascinating pictures, nature and landscapes, people and Duel Monsters. Some of the pictures were transformed into holograms, the others were perfect to the last of the details. "It all started when I drew duel monsters cards for Seto in the time our step father was alive. I loved to dream about the monsters, and how they are taking Seto and me away so we don't have to stay in his ugly presence. I'm drawing the things I see and the things I dream about. I hope one day I have my own Manga publication."

Crystal smiled, looking at his art "You are really talented! The pictures are so beautiful, and I'm sure you can have your own Manga! Your work is outstanding!" she admired more of his creations, and then Mokuba said "Well Crystal, we should get back to Seto before he kills us both for being late! Now let's go, I'll show you the way." and they went to find Seto.

"I thought you would never come," said Seto as he played with the computer, making the system print itself in three different versions. "I brought her, Seto. Now if you excuse me, I have to go." Mokuba smiled and went out, closing the door. /Seto needs to spend some time with her alone. And she likes my drawings! I never thought she would like them, but she does! I want to paint something nice for her!.../

"Your brother has such a talent! His drawings are wonderful!" said Crystal while checking the system again. Seto nodded "I don't know; I wanted him to be interested in computers just like I have always been, but now I doubt it is what he truly likes." Crystal looked at Seto "I think he is very skilled, and I think he should keep drawing. Why isn't this working?" she asked suddenly.

"Let me see," Seto said, coming close to her once again. He put his hand over hers to move the mouse, and a second later, realizing what he was doing, he quickly moved it away. "Sorry, I'll let you sit," Crystal said as she jumped from her place. He silently sat down when she stood beside him. He said "Why wouldn't you take a chair? We can sit together. There is plenty of space," she nodded, obeying and bringing a chair. "Well, let the system begin," she said "That's what my teacher used to say when I ran the most complicated systems!" explained Crystal.

"I see he was an interesting person," Seto said "Now tell me: do I have to connect them through the head file?" Crystal looked again and said "You know what? We should define a common interface to the systems and then we will connect them automatically."

While they worked, however, they talked about different things. Crystal told Seto a bit about her orphanage years, and he added some of his stories about that period. "Nice thugs you had there," Seto said finally "I would have beat them all. They are all the same everywhere. Some of them tried to get on Mokuba's nerves, and I 'calmed' them down a little bit." Crystal smiled sadly "He told me you protected him.". Seto said "I was doing my job as a big brother. It's my duty to keep him safe." /I want to know you are safe either. Your life story reminds me of my own, our stories are so similar, yet little changes make them whole different. Still I want to hear more./

"The system is almost connected." Crystal pointed out "Only few more commands and it will run." Seto examined the screen once again "I think you are right. Now I remember how it is done; I just didn't connect anything for some time now."

They worked for another half an hour and the system was ready. "The Duel Disc we tested today worked fine, so there is no reason it wouldn't accept this system. Now I think it is the time for dinner! Let's go, Mokuba must be waiting." said Seto.

The dinner was great, and the threesome didn't stop talking and laughing. Finally Seto said "Mokuba, you have to go to bed now. You have school tomorrow." Mokuba looked disappointed, yet he knew there was nothing to do. He hugged Crystal once again, said goodnight and went to bed.

"Now do you want to go outside for a walk, Crystal?" asked Seto. "Yes, and soon I need to get back home," she said. The two of them went outside, to the garden that was located before Kaiba's mansion. "We did a great job today," said Seto as he watched the clouds cover the moon and the starz. "Yes, we did." confirmed Crystal. "I want you to come again," Seto said suddenly "Mokuba loves to see you, and I have to say I love to work with you." Crystal looked at him, a smiled spreading over her lips. "When I was in the orphanage, I never had real friends. Even when I studied and graduated from college I had only few friends. And I feel like I know you and Mokuba for all of my life. You became my best friends so fast," Crystal admitted silently.

"I know how you feel," Seto said "When I first met you, some time ago, I started remembering our high-school days, and the things Mokuba and I did back then. You reminded me I have to spend more time with him. And…I want to spend more time with you, Crystal." her big grey eyes were reflecting the red and blue lights of the lamps hanging in the garden. "I would like to," she said sincerely.

"If it is so, I want to ask you a favor," Seto said "You see, I have an important business meeting in a week or so, and I need to go for almost the whole weekend. I don't like to leave Mokuba here alone, I never liked it, and he is really bored when I have to go. Usually I would take him with me anyway, but this time that snake Pegasus is going to be there, and I don't want Mokuba to get close to this liar ever again. Still I want to ask you to stay a weekend in this mansion. Spend time with Mokuba, you two can play together. What do you say?"

"Well, it is sounds really good. I will do this if you really want me to." Seto nodded "I want. Mokuba will be so happy and I will be calmer if you two are together." Crystal said then "I agree, I will stay with Mokuba, you don't have to worry about us." Seto smiled in the dark "Hey Crystal," he said "Thank you."

During the next week Mokuba talked only about the weekend. Seto was supposed to travel on Thursday afternoon, and be back by Saturday night. When Mokuba was told the news, he was really excited and planned the weekend carefully. He talked with Crystal on the phone, and though he was a little sad because his brother was going to travel without him, he was really pleased to spend the time with his new friend.

On Thursday morning Crystal went to work equipped with a back-bag that contained extra clothes and her deck of cards – she promised Mokuba they will play together Duel Monsters. The weather was rainy and cold so they would have to stay at home. She worked with Seto that day, and they almost finished another connection of systems. After work they went to the Kaiba mansion together, there Seto left Crystal and headed toward his private airport. Mokuba and Crystal were left alone.

"Well, what are we going to do now?" asked Mokuba. Crystal smiled "You pick! Wanna play Duel Monsters? I brought my cards though I don't exactly remember how to play them."

"Have you ever played with the Duel-Disc?" asked Mokuba and was greatly shocked when her response was negative. "How come? You are programming the Duel-Discs and you don't know how to use one? Let me show you!" he dragged her to a room (Crystal had some difficulty to follow and remember the corridors in this mansion. It was just such a complicated maze) there Mokuba handed her a disc. The rest of the day she learned how to use it, and they played a short game.

It turned out that Crystal was a good player; she had an interesting variety of cards, and when they finally stopped Mokuba said "You are playing very well. I think my brother will be interested in a game with you." Crystal smiled "Your brother is the world champion. I don't think I can play as well as he does. I haven't played for a long time now," and they both ate dinner. Then Mokuba invited Crystal to watch a movie. They picked up "Princess Mononoke", and both fell asleep during the film. Crystal woke up in the end, and gently shook Mokuba.

"Where do I sleep?" she asked, her eyes still closed. "Seto said you can sleep in a room next to my bedroom, so I can always show you around the mansion. Let's go, Crystal."

The bed was so comfortable, Crystal fell asleep the moment she laid down. Her eyes closed heavily, and Mokuba's whisper of 'Goodnight' was the last thing on her mind

She woke up early the day after that, and got dressed. The cold outside the mansion just grew, but the air conditioner didn't let her feel it inside. She could manage perfectly without the sweater on her, so she wore a T-short, her millennium ankh hanging freely from her neck. "Aren't you cold?" asked Mokuba. "Well, I do not have an air conditioner at home, so I feel it is quite hot for me here." she answered.

After breakfast Mokuba sat and did his homework while Crystal was sketching something. She wrote some ideas for new programs on the papers, and when Mokuba asked if she needed a computer, she only laughed and said "I don't have a computer, so when I write the programs I do it on the paper. Then I type it on the computer." Mokuba did his computer science homework, and Crystal volunteered to help him. They finished the work early and played Duel Monsters again. When they both had enough, Mokuba showed Crystal how he drew, and she was very impressed to see how a sketch of his coming to life by the holographic system.

They watched another movie after dinner, yet were really tired and wanted to sleep before it ended.

"What are we going to do tomorrow, Cris?" asked Mokuba lazily. Crystal eyed him with a smile "How did you know my nickname was Cris?"

He closed his eyes and let out "You knew mine was Mokie," and a yawn. Crystal laughed and said "Well, tomorrow we will prepare candies. I know how to make sweets." Mokuba smiled, his eyes closed and said "It sounds good for me."

"Let's go to bed," Crystal offered "I am really tired and you are already half asleep." she got up, stretching and yawning. Mokuba walked eyes closed and scared her when he knew every turn in the way.

Saturday's morning found them both in the kitchen, standing and making cookies. The cook stood mouth wide open, yet followed Crystal's explanations curiously. "I never heard about this recipe," she said and Crysatl smiled. "My teacher in the orphanage told me how to make them, and it is actually my third time." the cook laughed cheerfully and added sugar to the mixture more than it was needed. Despite of all the mistakes the sweets were very tasty.

"Let's save some for Seto." offered Mokuba and put them into a box. Crystal, all red from the baking, nodded in agreement and got back to work. The cook had to expel them both from the kitchen in order to make the supper. Mokuba and Crystal ran away and hide in Mokuba's room, there they played Duel Monsters again.

They ate while watching another movie, and it was so scary that Crystal refused to eat her dessert. Mokuba ate her portion gladly, yet felt a strange sensation in his stomach because the movie was just terrifying. /I think I will regret eating this…/ he thought while the vampire killed its sixth victim.

Finally the movie was over. Mokuba and Crystal sat there, somehow scared. "It's just a movie." whispered Mokuba finally. "So why do you look so scared?" teased Crystal back. "You didn't eat because you were even more scared than me!" protested Mokuba. They sat like this for some time, every little noise startling them and finally Crystal said "I quit! I want to sleep!" and she stood up.

"No!" called out Mokuba "What if the vampire is waiting you around the corner of the corridor?"

"I guess I have to take the risk!" and they both run into Mokuba's room and closed the door.

"Now what?" he asked "I can't believe we are so scared because of that stupid movie. We are not chickens!" said Crystal "Though I really don't want to sleep after this movie…"

"Then bring a blanket and we'll sit here together." whispered Mokuba. Crystal opened the door, looking into the darkness of the corridor.

"I think it is safe," she said, and walked slowly to her room. The air conditioner hummed and she felt the hot air engulfing her body. Her mouth was dry. She took her shirt off, staying only in an undershirt. She quickly took her blanket.

"Saigo Crystal," a voice said behind her. She jumped on her place, looking back, but saw nobody. "Remember the world is cold."

"Who is it?" she let out in a gasp. But nothing moved. The humming of the air conditioner made her mind sleepy. /Mokuba is waiting…Why am I dreaming like this? No one is here, and you should give your imagination a rest, Cris./ then she walked out of the room /It is a shame to let a stupid movie get on the nerves like this./

Two different colored eyes were opened when she closed the door behind her /You are a little brave girl, aren't you? Don't worry, I will make you surrender, I will break that little spirit of yours…By hurting those who are close to you, Saigo Crystal…And your power will only grow when you see them suffer. The Kaiba brothers are going to be my little puppetz to get to you…Just wait./

"What took you so long?" asked Mokuba "Did you meet the headless guy?" Crystal glanced at him "Now enough with this, Mokuba. Say, aren't you feeling hot? This air conditioner of yours is really cooking us up here!"

"No, it is just warm a little. I don't understand why it is so hot for you." Crystal placed her blanket near his bed and sat down "What will we talk about?" she asked. They spend some time talking about their childhoods. They laughed when she told him funny stories about her computer science teacher. Finally, she noticed he fell asleep. She was very tired herself, she just put her head on the covers and closed her eyes. /Just for a moment…/ and fell asleep right then and there.

/I hate those business meetings! And I hate this one especially because that demon Pegasus was participating. I can't forgive his try to steal my company from me years ago. And I know he is still up to something in this matter! I will smash his ugly face if he dares to do something like this again! And I hate to be close to him for what he had done to my family on that stupid tournament of his. He did something to Mokuba, and though I don't really believe in this magic stuff I think he is the worst villain in the whole Duel-Monsters series!.../

Seto opened the door to the mansion, closing it behind him. Inside it was greatly warmer than in the rain outside. He put his suitcase and his coat inside his office, and went toward his room. He bypassed Mokuba's room and looked at the one Crystal was suppose to sleep in. /I want to see her…But what will she think if I just enter her room like this, in the middle of the night? Unthinkable, yet a pity. Guess I see her tomorrow…/

Seto entered Mokuba's bedroom to check his brother was alright. It was a little cold there, since the air conditioner was programmed to work only till 23:00 p.m. and it was past midnight already. To his great surprise, he noticed a figure leaning on Mokuba's bed, half covered. /Crystal? What is she doing here?.../

Mokuba was sound asleep under the covers, yet her exposed arms were cold and she shivered lightly. /She is so cold…/ thought Seto when he touched her arm /She must have worn short clothes while the air conditioner was on and fell asleep like this. Poor girl, it is very cold outside, and she is half on the floor./ he tug her gently up to him, pulling her into his arms. She let out a small sound when his warmth engulfed her, not waking up. He walked out of the room with her, careful not to disturb Mokuba.

When Seto stood in the corridor, Crystal's body in his arms, he knew what he had to do. He had to put her back into her bed in the room next to Mokuba's. Yet he just stood there and stared into her beautiful face, lighted only by the lights outside the window. She shivered again, trying to snuggle closer to him in her sleep. He knew perfectly well what he had to do…

Yet a smirk formed on his face when he paced in the opposite direction, carrying her into his room.

FAB: So what do you think? Just REVIEW and inform me! This is the perfect time!

I wish everyone a great weekend!