Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or anything related to it what-so-ever. The only characters in this fic that are truly mine are:

Lady Aurora Phoenix

Lady Natara Fear

Lady Sapphira Star

Dorian "Chaos"

Bryant "Havoc"

Sanura

Zahara

Adais

A/N: This is a fantasy as you can tell. It is part 2 to the Eternal Love fanfic that I ended a little while ago as it was getting to be too long. The story of the Pharaoh and his family is far from over however. His children are still around and they will incorporate themselves in the lives of little Yugi and his friends in one way or another. Fair warning, I am not one for writing out duels so you may not see a lot of them- barely any actually, as the fic is about the events that happened outside the duel arena. There will be some familiar scenes to fans of the show but most of those scenes will have a small twist or two in order for it to fit with the plot being laid out.

I understand many will not agree with a lot of what is written but that is why this is in the fantasy genera and not in just the general one. This is purely a concoction out of my own head and I am just going where the ideas lead me.

Just want to thank my faithful readers and reviewers again for continuing along on this little journey. DDCfreak, Atemu Fangurl, Ishizusan, Pastelblue, and mugen thank you all!

Pastelblue- Yeah- something along the way of a father's sixth sense about things like this… Even if he doesn't remember that he is a father (grins). Zahara says she is glad to finally get it out as well. And don't worry Ryou… There will be more of you and Zahara a little later. Of course- you are going to have to fight with Bakura for her in the end. (covers mouth) oops! Did I just say that out loud? (grins) Don't worry though, you all know how I hate sad endings. Must be nice to have both Blue and Zahara in your life lol. Both are great women (smiles)!

Ishizu-san – I have to admit I liked that one as well. Of course the insults were great, but it also gave a chance to make light of the powers he had been given before he was sealed away. I had to bring them in somewhere- they become essential to the end result.

Anyway- on to the next chapter.

Para and Dox Meet Their Match

Seto Kaiba maneuvered the helicopter into the only open space he could find on the island. He had not realized until he heard shouts that anyone was even near by. He glanced back at the sleeping woman who he had been able to trust with his life. He needed the briefcase that rested beside her, but he did not wish to disturb her from her rest either. There was an extra jacket folded neatly in the back of the chopper that he reached for and opened. Carefully he draped it over her she could rest in the little comfort that could be had in the flight craft. She moaned softly and snuggled into the jacket He watched her only a moment longer before grasping his briefcase and preparing to leave so he could find his brother.

"At least you have a better chance at being safe here," he said softly. "I will return shortly and then we will get you home." A part of him had actually felt bad at forcing her to life at a moment's notice at his beckon call. She never complained when he pulled her from whatever activity she had been involved with in order to cater to one of his own projects. She served him faithfully and loyally. He was beginning to think that aside from his brother, she was the only one he could trust when it came to his company, and perhaps with more. He took a breath and leapt down to the ground, ready to face anyone who stood in his way of getting to his little brother.

Sanura groaned and shifted in her seat as her eyes blinked open. She had not intended to go to sleep. She meant to stay alert in case she was needed. Looking around, she realized they had landed and that was when she noticed the trench coat draped over her. She frowned a moment. Seto would not have done this, at least not the Seto I have gotten to know, she thought curiously. The scent of his cologne wafted up from the coat and she breathed it in. Moments later she pushed it off. No! she shouted angry with herself. I won't, not him. I can't. She chuckled at her stupidity. Baka, she called herself. He is my boss. A cold one at that. There is no way the feeling could ever be returned. She glanced over at the coat on the floor of the helicopter. The fact that he had taken the time to place it over her still stuck in her head. Sighing, she leaned back and settled in and waited for his return.
Aurora gave up on her search for a moment long enough to rest her mind. She had received a shock when she sensed the Flaming Wrath fire shield being used. She had never expected to feel that power. At least not at this time. The fact that it had been used brought enough concern to postpone her search and go to the dining area where Pegasus had abandoned his viewing screen. Luckily, he had retired for the evening after a meeting with the executives of Kaiba Corp. so the room was empty. She flipped on the screen in time to see Yami and the others walking away from an arena. A shocked older woman she recognized from the duelist files as Mai Valentine watching them go. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Ryou's arm around Zahara.

"Well, this could be interesting. I know I sensed an evil in that boy the first time I met him. I could not have been imagining it, could I? I have never been far off my mark before." She stopped her thoughts as she realized it had been his name that had made her become so apprehensive of him. "She does see him more than I do with her position at the school. Maybe she knows something I do not. Maybe he truly is as pure as she would like me to believe." She shook her head and brought her mind back to the task at hand as she tried to figure out what had brought on the sense of the shield's power. She looked up.

"Computer, rewind to show the events of the last duel for Yugi Motou," She commanded. The screen went blank as it back tracked over the duel. Her eyes widened in shock at the end of the duel when Yami had been consumed by the fire. She saw the shield go up long before he had even acknowledged it. She would not have, had she not already knew what to look for. "So he really does still have access to those powers. That will help later." She sighed again as she watched Ryou leading Zahara away to follow Yugi's friends. "Zahara, I do hope you know what you are getting yourself into."

What did I get myself into? Zahara shouted to herself as she and the others tried to shove a boulder away from the only opening to the cave they had just then found themselves trapped in. She hung her head and leaned against one wall of the cave, thinking over the events leading them there.

There had been a duel between Joey and Seto Kaiba. A duel in which Joey suffered a tremendous lose not only in the duel but in his heart as well. He had thought he was improving and becoming a better duelist, but his rush to crush Seto had been what destroyed him. She could not help the scowl that crossed her face when she remembered Seto's parting words to him. Then again, Yugi had not let him off so easily when it came to those words either. In the end, they all calmed Joey and tried to get back to sleep. She had noticed Yugi watching her and Ryou with questions in his eyes. She could not help but wonder what he had been thinking. When the sun had risen, so had Joey. He was ready to try his hand again, to prove he was not about to roll over and play the part of some sad puppy as Seto had told him to. This had concerned everyone. Even more so when Joey disappeared later that morning. By the time they had gone through the gauntlet that lead to where Joey was at, they found him already deep into a duel with a character who called himself Bones. They later learned he had just been a puppet for a man named Bandit Keith. Joey did manage in the end to defeat bones and issue a challenge to Bandit Keith, but not long after Keith and his puppets left, Zahara and the others found themselves sealed inside.

She looked up as Téa began whining about never getting out. Does she ever shut up, she asked herself, stifling the urge to roll her eyes. Her attention was drawn away however by a golden light out of the corner of her eye. Ryou had stepped away from them and when she turned to face him, he was staring down at the Millennium Ring, holding it in his hands. One of the tines on it was pointed ahead of him. Something inside her screamed that this was a bad thing, but she kicked that part of her down as well.

"What is it, Ryou?" she asked him softly, catching the attention of the others. Ryou looked up at the direction his Ring was pointed. When he did not answer at first she stood and dusted the dirt off her faded blue jeans. She noted the small tear in Ryou's jacket that had come as they had made their way through the gauntlet of traps set up inside the cave on their way to Joey. Hoping to spare it more damage, she removed it and tied the arms around her waist, revealing her silver, high necked shirt in which the sleeves stopped at her shoulders. Typically she would have called it a tank top, but it really was not with the high neck. She shrugged to herself and looked up to see several eyes on her.

"What? Something wrong?" she asked, looking around at everyone. Téa smacked Tristan who fell into Joey, making them break their vision of her. Yugi blushed lightly as he laughed at his friends and Ryou's eyes held something different in them. Not the lust she saw in Joey and Tristan, but nothing short of a hunger either. The Ring seemed to tug at him and his attention was drawn away.

"Hey, Bakura! What gives?" Joey called out to him as he turned and walked a short distance from them. He said nothing at first. He stopped when his Ring aimed a tine toward one tunnel not far from where they had been standing.

"My Ring seems to be tugging me in this direction," he explained softly. A feeling of dread filled Zahara as she walked up beside him. He looked at her and she searched his face for signs of the evil spirit. The same warm brown eyes peered at her, but this time with sadness. As if he knew what she was feeling. She looked away and swallowed hard.

"Why?" Téa asked him as the rest of the group approached.

"Yugi and I believe that my Ring can pinpoint the location of other Millennium Items. That it is honing in on Pegasus' Eye. By following the paths it chooses, it should lead us to an alternate opening to the castle."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Tristan asked. Suddenly the Ring jerked Ryou forward, causing him to stumble slightly as he began to run down the paths.

"Hey! Can you tell dat thing ta slow down a little?" Joey shouted as they chased after him. Zahara was glad she had worn her sneakers instead of her typical, fashionable boots. It made all her running easier since being on this island. The speed and skill graced to her from her mother's powers and immortality had aided her as well. This was one of the few times she did not curse her heritage. She took full advantage of it and was able to maintain the same pace as Ryou, keeping just behind him.

Aurora was passing the dining hall when she heard the viewing screen going and Pegasus' laughter. She narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow as she neared the room. Nudging the door open she saw why he was laughing. She watched as Ryou led the group through the various tunnels under the castle with the guidance of his Millennium Ring.

Wait! She looked again and felt her face go white as she saw the Ring in the boy's hands. So I wasn't wrong. He does have it. She shook her head, turning to lean against the wall just beside the door. She sighed and raised her head to the ceiling. Ra, what is going on? Why did it have to be him of all people she chose to fall for? I fear for her. Ra, please help her. Protect her. Keep her safe. There is no telling what that spirit will have in mind for her if he learns just who Zahara is. There was a whisper of a presence in her mind. A presence that startled her and forced her to stand upright. Her eyes wide in disbelief.

I hear you. I don't know how, but I do. I have been watching them. I will keep her safe as I have been doing for my Hikari. I will let no harm come to her. I promise you. The voice faded and she slid to the floor. He had gained enough strength to maintain his mental connection to her. He could now have access to her thoughts. She was not so sure that was a good thing. But she could not let his promise go unanswered. He was, after all, in the best position to help her. She hung her head.

Thank you, my pharaoh. I am greatly in your debt. Sensing his shock through their connection, she quickly closed it, standing as she did so. She heard Mokuba's voice coming from inside the dining hall, as well as another round of laughter from Pegasus. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw the boy in chains sitting on the cold stone floor. There was another flicker in her mind. An angry presence. The elder Kaiba. Seto had arrived on the island. She could rest her search. He would be there soon enough to free Mokuba. This now left her time to watch Pegasus as he had been watching everyone else. This she was going to find oddly amusing. At least she thought as much until she saw the duel prepared for Yugi deep within the catacombs of the castle. A duels was about to begin. A two on two battle. Yugi and Joey were to go up against two of Pegasus' toughest eliminators yet. The Paradox brothers.

Zahara groaned as the duel moved forward. "If I have to hear one more rhyme, you guys will be short one member of this group." Ryou smirked as Tristan and Téa nodded in agreement. She was fortunate that Yami ad Joey were too busy dueling to pay attention to her remark. The duel they were facing was the toughest one they had been apart of yet. The amount of chips wagered were enough to get Yugi and Joey into the castle. But it would not be easy. They were dueling in a labyrinth arena. At one point the walls had shifted causing Yami and Joey's monsters to be separated. Joey had managed to make an attempt at regrouping them, but had triggered a trap within the maze. One of his monsters was destroyed, but Yami still had a plan. His favored Dark Magician was on the field, so using his Mystic Box, he switch places with one of the Paradox Brother's monsters, destroying it and placing his Dark Magician next to Joey's monster again. All plays had been back and forth this way. But then the Brothers reminded them of a puzzle that rested just beyond their arena. There was a choice of two doors. One door will take them back outside and near the castle. The other one would have them trapped beneath the castle for eternity.

Zahara was not worried too much about the eternity part. Growing up, she has spent several centuries hidden beneath the sands of Egypt, guarding the tombs and Items. She was used to the darkness and could handle that with very little problems. But she knew the others would not handle it so well. They had to get out of the underground prison. And soon. Gasps from the others beside her brought her out of her thoughts and back to the arena. A large monster the Brothers called the Gate Guardian had been constructed on the field, staring down at the monsters left for Yami and Joey.

"It has the strength of three monsters!" Yami exclaimed.

"It's three monsters in one!" Joey echoed the shock in Yami's voice.

"Now what do they do?" Téa asked. Ryou shook his head.

"I don't know, this looks bad."

"Down be so down about this, Bakura. If they don't win this, we will never get out of here."

"Do you really think I don't know this, Tristan?" Ryou sneered back at him. Zahara placed a hand on his arm, instantly calming him again. She wanted to take no chances at any anger possibly bringing the spirit back out in him. Her plan seemed to work as his arm eased up in tension a little bit. "Thanks for cheering me up, mate," He added, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

"We're not givin' up, right, Yugi? Bring it on!" Joey shouted at the Paradox brothers. He was rewarded with a laugh from Para. And Dox snickered as he spoke.

"No one has ever gotten past the Gate Guardian!"

"You will wander the labyrinth," Para told them. Then they spoke in unison.

"Lost for all eternity." Zahara sighed. Haven't they already said that? She thought to herself.

"Me and Yugi will take on anything you've got!"

Joey's right," Yami agreed with his arms folded over his chest. "We're a team. You will never beat our combined power." He lowered his gaze to challenge them. "Take your turn!" He commanded.

Aurora stood in the hallway, watching the duel with great interest when Croquet appeared beside her. Remembering her strength from the last time he had seen her, she gave an amused smirk as he skirted around her to enter the room. She listened as he reported to Pegasus that Kaiba was indeed within the castle and deep within the tunnels leading to the dungeon area at that moment. She stood back only briefly at the news.

"Once again, Croquet you report what I already know," Pegasus told him, placing his wine glass on the table.

"I beg your pardon, sir," Croquet said with a bow. Pegasus stood.

"You can beg later, when you are being punished." She could not help the raised eyebrow at that remark as she made an attempt to digest it and figure out what it meant. Truth be told, she really did not like the image that came to mind so she shook her head and pulled into the shadows of the hall as he left the room. "Seto Kaiba's presence on the island was not part of my original plan," he was saying as he passed her. "But perhaps I could turn this to my advantage, and to my amusement." She did not need her powers to know what he was planning. In the time she had known him, she saw his tricks. She knew what he was capable of and knew he was not afraid to use the magic he had access too. A vision did come to her though. One that saddened her, more than shocked her.

She saw little Mokuba trapped in what looked like a Duel Monster's card. His soul locked away. She saw Seto's fury. She knew the great lengths Seto would take to ensure his victory over Yugi in order to gain entrance to the castle and face Pegasus in a duel. She saw Yugi's spirit crushed as he fought with Yami's spirit during that duel. Then she saw the terrible defeat Seto would be handed by Pegasus. Seeing his fate was too much for her as she made her way to her room. The mental strain of emotions had become too much. Too hard to handle. She did not even make it too her bed when her energy slipped from her and darkness consumed her, leaving her to fall helpless to the floor.

Zahara and the others cheered when Yami played his Reborn the Monster card to bring back the water elemental that had once been apart of the Gate Guardian. Yami and Joey had destroyed it once, but Yami needed it in order to implement his plan. They had combined the Summoned Skull and Joey's Red Eyes Black Dragon to form the Black Skull Dragon. They had been disheartened upon learning that the labyrinth was a no fly zone and their dragon could not make a move toward their Gate Guardian. The Para Dox Brothers were not about to give up easily and made an attack which in the end destroyed the water elemental again. But by then, the Dark Magician was positioned where Yami wanted him.

"I knew you would destroy that monster. In fact, I counted on it." Para's eyes narrowed in anger.

"What do you mean?"

"Anything to draw attention from my Dark Magician." Yami held up his next card. "After all if I am to use this Monster Replace card on our Dragon I needed someone strategically placed to switch places with."

"No, he can't!" Para shouted. Dox cringed.

"He played us for fools, brother. Knowing his dragon could not move within the walls of the labyrinth he had his Dark Magician move for him."

"And now," Yami commanded as he placed his card down on the field. "Monster Replace! Switch my Dark Magician with the Black Skull Dragon!" In a series of colorful lights Zahara and the others watched wide eyed as the two monsters switched places, the Black Skull Dragon now poised for attack. "With the Black Skull Dragon, Joey and I can finish this with one final, ferocious assault." Yami told them as they bother began to tremble in the wake of their defeat. "Black Skull Dragon! Molten Fireball Attack!" The Dragon attacked on command, destroying the last two parts of the Gate Guardian and bringing the Paradox brothers life points to zero.

"Take that!" Joey laughed.

"The duel goes to us," Yami added. Zahara joined the others as they cheered the victory and the idea that they were home free. That thought hit her hard though as she remembered they were not out yet. The Paradox brothers were laughing. She turned and saw both doors behind them. She let out a sigh and hung her head.

"We aren't out of here yet, guys," she told them sadly.

"What?" Téa and Tristan asked her. Ryou caught her gaze as she looked up again.

"The doors. They still have to choose the right door that leads out of here," he explained.

"Correct you fools!" Para and Doxannounced. They all joined Yami and Joey on the platform close to the doors. Yami looked at each thoughtfully.

"Now, which of you is guarding the door that leads out of here?" Para grinned.

"If you cherish your lives, you will choose my way."

"Select my side or else you'll pay," Dox chimed in. Zahara cringed at the rhyme. She could not wait to get away from them. Téa stepped forward.

"Can't you guys act normal for once and give us a straight answer?"

"I am giving you a straight answer," They answered her in unison. She groaned and fell back a couple of steps in defeat.

"The answer is we can't trust either of them," Yami told everyone.

"Okay, guys," Tristan spoke up. "Any one got any bright ideas?"

"Ah, sure," Joey said. "Don't I always?" Tristan, Téa, Ryou and Zahara all hung their heads and groaned. "Eh, zero respect," he grumbled. Zahara watched as Yami produced two coins from his pocket. He closed his eyes a moment and she could feel a small burst of Power before raising the coins to the view of everyone else.

"We'll decide with these," he said evenly. Confidence flowing off him. Not a sign of weakness to be found. The brother laughed at him.

"Okay, heads or tails?" Dox asked him, amused. Yami placed a coin in each hand and closed his fist.

"Neither. I marked each coin to represent a different door. The one still clenched in my fist will be the door we choose."

What is he doing? Zahara asked herself. She knew he was taking a huge risk in this game. King of Games from his time period or not, this was a risky move even for him.

"Ready?" A sly grin curved his lips as he raised his fist up in front of his face. His eyes slid from fist to fist as his friends waited in anticipation.

Come on, Zahara muttered to herself. It was all she could do to shout at him. The waiting was just too much. Please, make your choice, and make it be right… Finally he opened his hand to show a coin resting on his palm.

"That coin was marked for Dox's door," Para announced.

"But was the choice good or was it poor?" Dox added. Zahara clenched her fists, ready to deck the two brothers. Ryou covered one of her fists with his own hand and she felt herself settle a moment. Her heart thumping was the only sound she heard instead.

"What say you Dox, shall we say what was right?"

"In do time, Para, I'm enjoying their plight." Joey growled and inched forward. Yami reached back and stopped him from moving farther.

"Was it Para?" Joey asked.

"Or was it Dox?" Téa added.

"Yeah, come on and tell us," Tristan said impatiently. The brothers laughed wickedly again.

"I say…" Para began.

"You choose wrong," Dox informed them. "It was my door all along!" Téa looked confused. Yami stood unconvinced.

"So, it was Dox's door?"

"Not quite," Yami told her. The brothers stopped laughing and looked at him, confused.

"Yes it was," Para insisted.

"And if we had chose Dox's door, it would have been Para's. You have the ability to alter the rooms like you can with your labyrinth, don't you? Ensuring that we choose wrong."

"You guys cheated!" Joey yelled out with a fist in the air. Shock covered the faces of the brothers. Their careful plan had been figured out.

"Too bad, too late, you chose your way."

"And in this room you will stay!"

"But you did not actually see my choice," Yami told them with another of his sly smirks. He opened his other fist and everyone gasped.

"The Dox coin!" Joey exclaimed. Yami flipped the coin in his hand.

"I figured you two would pull a stunt like this, so I pulled a stunt of my own. Instead of marking them with just one door symbol, I marked this coin with both. One on each side, that way, we couldn't lose." Joey grinned.

"Ha, beat ya at your own game," he said happily.

"Both of them," Yami agreed. The others cheered loudly, jumping up and down as they surrounded Joey and Yami. Téa threw her arms around Yami who was forced to take a couple steps back in order to maintain his balance. Zahara raised an eyebrow at the brunette as she watched his reaction to her. His arms remained at his side, but his eyes registered his shock as he swallowed hard. He blinked rapidly. Zahara could not mistake the lack of comfort he was feeling. Of course, she, too, was not too happy with seeing Téa's arms around her father either. Her eyes narrowed and her fists clenched again. Ryou grabbed her around the waist to swing her around which had caught her off guard as well. When he replaced her to her feet he leaned over to whisper to her.

"It will be okay. You will see." She glanced at him oddly and followed his wink over to Yami and Téa. She watched as Yami cautiously detached himself from the girl, careful not to do so in a way to hurt her, physically, or emotionally, but enough for her to know he wanted the space. Téa's face fell momentarily, but she recovered as they made their way through the correct door and out of the room.

"Fresh air!" Joey shouted as he rushed out of the cavern and into the light. Zahara laughed at him as he jumped around happily. Yami had been not far behind her, and she noticed he was silent. She wondered what was going through his mind.

Yami had been rocked when the brunette friend of Yugi's grabbed him back in the Paradox brothers' room. He felt strange at first, and then he felt like it was extremely wrong for him to hold her in return. There had been a brief moment during the duel when a soft pleading voice seemed to filter into his mind begging for help in protecting Zahara.

Who did that voice belong to? Why was I able to hear it? And why did it shut me out before I could ask it why the voice called me, Pharaoh? So many questions were going through his head. So many things he did not understand. He knew Zahara was even more of a clue to his past. His missing memories. He felt two pairs of eyes gazing upon him and he looked up. Two sets of blue eyes were watching him intently. One bright and dancing, the other dark enough to make one feel as though they were falling into the night sky. Those eyes! He knew those eyes. He stalked up to the girl with those eyes and stared deeply into them. He saw her eyes widen and she attempted to take a step back almost in fear of him. He also saw Ryou place a hand on her back to stop her. This struck him as odd, but he could not be concerned by that at this time.

He watched as her breath caught in her throat as he reached up to touch her chin. He could sense the uneasiness flowing not only from her but from Ryou as well. Fine tremors began to run through her body. Why do I frighten her? He wondered as he continued to stare at her. He traced her face with his thumb, gently touching her cheek and jaw line. He noticed then the white flecks of light in her eyes that danced like stars. He definitely felt he knew those eyes, but there were differences in the face. Small enough to shake him enough. He could almost see streaks of crimson filtering through the lapis blue of her eyes. Her face was that of the woman he danced with. But he knew this child was the woman's daughter. Searching Yugi's memory he found the name he was looking for.

"Aurora," he said softly. Her breath seemed to stop and Ryou's eyes narrowed. Téa was all out glaring at the trio, her arms folded across her chest. The girl he spoke to hesitantly shook her head.

"N-no. A-Aurora is my mother. I am Zahara, you know that." She tried to cover her shock and fear by giving a weak smile. He could hear her heart thudding loudly in her chest.

"You fear me." It was not a question. She shook her head again.

"I do not. I- I re-respect you, sir." He knew then she knew the difference between Yugi and himself. The others may not have sensed it and thankfully for Zahara and himself, the others, aside from Ryou, had been far enough not to hear their exchange.

"Why?" She lowered her gaze and turned her head from him.

"I- I'm afraid I cannot answer that at this time, sir. Duty bound to my own responsibilities, I am not at liberty to be the one to tell you the answers you seek." She took in a shallow breath as his eyes narrowed again.

So she does know something, he realized. "Who then? Who can tell me what is going on?" She sighed deeply.

"When the time is right, all will be revealed. Even I don't know enough to tell you anything, sir."

"Why do you call me, sir? Can you tell me that at least? How can you see the difference between Yugi and myself?" She swallowed again.

"To answer the first, I am uncertain as to what exactly to call you. And tothe second, my family has always been the guardians of the Millennium Puzzle. We knew the legends. We knew one day it would be claimed. I am here to maintain watch over the puzzle. Not to interfere in the events that must play out. Just watch. Please, sir, I cannot tell you any more. One day it will all be clear for you. I promise." She looked up at him then, her eyes meeting his in a way he could tell she never thought she would. She looked at him almost as an equal, but still regarded him with the same respect she had always given him. Disappointment slipped into his gaze and she lowered her eyes again. He had been hoping for answers. Answers he was certain she had. But he could see in her eyes that she was telling him the truth when she said she did not know what he was seeking. He backed up and looked over at Ryou, giving him a hard look at first. Then, almost instantly, he pulled back into the shadows of the puzzle, allowing Yugi to return to his own body. The duel was done, the questions asked, even if not answered. He was no longer needed at this time.

Zahara watched that change and saw the violet eyes of Yugi looking up at her with a curious expression on his face. She gave him a weak smile before turning away. Yugi turned as Téa placed a hand on his shoulder. She was still glaring at Zahara, but she said nothing to her. Instead she pulled Yugi over to where Tristan had laid out some of the food that had been in the bag, Mai had left behind before the duel with Panik. They had decided to eat something before they finished the long trip up the stairs to Pegasus' castle. Zahara was not hungry. The disappointment she had seen in Yami's eyes was enough to still her spirit. Silently, she slipped away while the others ate. She made her way up the stairs where she saw a very agitated Seto Kaiba standing in her way.

"Well if it isn't one of the puppy's pals," he said smugly. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "How is the mutt doing anyway?"

"Like you care," she snarled at him. How he had been a part of Sapphira Star, she could not figure out. He seemed so cold. Then again, after losing his parents and having his brother kidnapped, she could understand at least a little. But his arrogance over his defeat of Joey was enough to make her already on edge emotions, even worse. "Out of my way Kaiba. I've no business with you."

"Nor I with you," he sneered back at her. He still stood tall before her, not moving an inch to let her pass.

"Move or I will move you myself."

"I would like to see you try." Her gaze fell hard on his face. She had never told her mother about the strange things she had begun to notice she could do and control. That air around him seemed to stop moving and his eyes lost their amused coldness for a brief moment as he tried to regain his composure. He felt his feet slowly sliding across the stone and he dropped his arms to his sides. "How are you doing that!" he shouted at her. She sighed, letting go of the energy she was using to force him out of the way.

"I have my ways. Good day," she said lightly as she stepped passed him and through the first door. Kemo was waiting on the other side, checking the duelists' gloves for the mandatory requirement of ten star chips to enter. He stopped her.

"You cannot enter here, you do not even have any star chips."

"I am here with my mother, Ms. Aurora Hart, by invitation of Mr. Maxemillion Pegasus. Let me pass." Kemo halted her until he put a call through to security to check on her story. When they verified it he let her go. Quietly, she made it through the halls eventually meeting up with Croquet. "Where is my mother staying?" she asked him.

"Second level, fourth room down on the right." She nodded her thanks and made her way to the room. She was so lost in thought she had not noticed the door standing ajar. It was only as she neared it and pushed it open she saw her mother on the floor.

"Mother!" She ran over and turned her face up. Aurora's eyes blinked open and she moaned lightly. "Mother, are you ok?" Suddenly the glassy look in her eyes was gone and she sat up straight.

"Where's Seto? Have you seen him? I know he is here on the island."

"Yes, I just saw him a moment ago at the front door. Why?"

"His duel hasn't started?"

"No, it hasn't. Mother what is going on, Seto wasn't even supposed to be a part of this tournament." Aurora looked at her daughter and spoke the words that made her blood rung cold.

"Pegasus changed the rules."

Ok, ok, I know. The exchange between Yami and Zahara did not go quite as well as he had hoped lol... But now it is time to move on to Kaiba's rematch with Yami. Should be interesting... And how will Ryou take to realizing the Zahara has left them? All to be revealed in the next chapter. Later everyone!