Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh. I also don't own any song lyrics. I only own this plot, my precious plot...

My Notes: Hot off the presses! Just to remind one reviewer, this story is divorced from the events in the Ancient Egypt story arc. Meaning there won't be any Zork, there won't be any evil Bakura's Diabound running around, and there won't be any fusion between the three Egyptian Gods cards. Now does this mean that we'll see Mahado and Mana? Maybe. Will we see the slaughtered village that Bakura comes from? Maybe. Rather, it won't be slaughtered to make the Millennium Items, but for another reason entirely. But basically when you're reading this wonderful story of mine, you're supposed to forget whatever happens in the published/translated manga/anime and read this with fresh eyes. Otherwise I would have started a fanfic on Yugioh GX which I'm sure won't be coming to the states anytime soon.

And this chapter is basically filler for the next chapter, not that there hasn't been a few before. Hopefully the next chapter will explain why the Millennium Rod and Necklace were kept together. I'll see everyone next year that is if I survive tonight. Happy New Years everybody!

Seeking Answers

The Domino Museum had housed many things: gallery-sized paintings, statues carved from the finest marble, weakened and weathered original manuscripts from famous authors. The exhibits usually spoke volumes to their visitors who stared at them. But upon seeing the foursome who just entered, the exhibits stood silent.

"Why are we here again?" Joey asked, as he stared a simple cube painting; it being a part of some recent art movement.

"Because this is the last day of the Egyptian exhibit," Nadia informed him.

"Yeah but why am I here?" Tristan asked as he was about to touch a statue that was clearly marked by signs that said 'Don't Touch.'

"Because you said you didn't have anything else to do," Nadia reminded. That and I need some protection and I'll take what I can get, she thought to herself. She involuntarily shuddered, remembering the face in the mirror. "That and you would do anything for a pretty girl," she added sweetly. Tristan quietly chuckled at the remark.

"Yeah but why am I here?" Serenity asked as she watched her brother contemplate the abstract painting.

"Oh dat one's simple. You're here to spend time with your ever-loving brother," Joey said, unable to make heads or tails of what the painting wanted to say, other than I am a cube. "'Sides, you're the only one of us with actual money."

"Yeah. I mean, come on, its highway robbery just to see fine art. There should be a student discount or something!" Tristan complained.

"Well we could always become members?" Serenity suggested, remembering the helpful, and handsome, clerk at the entrance.

"And keep on coming back here? Not for me thanks," Joey said, moving to yet another odd painting: this one displaying a wild collection of multicolored lines making an outline of a popular culture family. "I don't get half this stuff anyways."

Nadia however was impatient. "Will you guys hurry up? We only have thirty minutes before the museum closes."

"I guess it's not that bad," Joey remarked, knowing that he would never become a great artist, or understand what they produced.

The foursome entered the Exhibit Hall where only the main displays were still viewable by the public. The main display was still the stone tablet that an ancient pharaoh and an ancient high priest facing one another. It was flanked by other stone tablets

Joey, whose memory often worked like a rusty steel trap, asked, "Say Nadia, don't you already have pics of most of these things?"

"Of course I do," she said, pausing to look at one of the terracotta jars trapped by a glass container, "but there are times when you just have to see something really up close and personal to realize its true value." I also need a history lesson before I get fully involved in this growing crisis. Everything I know is based on heresy which doesn't do me a lot of good, Nadia thought to herself. She was unconsciously steered to the only exhibit that the rest were remotely interested in.

"Wow, that really does look a lot like Yugi," Serenity remarked, staring at the carved likeness. "But he looks older, more confident like." Everyone agreed. "And taller," she whispered.

"Yeah, it's really amazing, all that stuff he says about him being this pharaoh from Egypt." Tristan added, coming to Serenity's side. "Half the time I wonder just what he's been taking. The other half, I wonder if I'm not taking anything."

"Tristan! Are you saying that you have doubts about Yugi's sanity?" Joey accused.

The pointed-haired one smirked. "I sometimes wonder about everyone's sanity."

"Well this is a pleasant surprise," a familiar voice announced. The group turned to face this newcomer.

"Ishizu!" Serenity exclaimed as she astonished the older woman by hugging her. "I take it your brother is better?" she asked, forgetting that the Egyptian was here on duty and not as a close friend.

"Yes, Marik is recovering. Odion is helping him get back on his feet." The raven-haired woman responded. She glanced over at Joey. "Are you feeling better as well?"

"Of course. It's just like that song. I get knocked down, but I get back up again. Ain't nothing going to keep me down," he sang. "That should be my theme song or something," Joey grinned.

"Dude, you do know what that song's about?" Tristan whispered to his friend's ear, whispered for the sake of Serenity.

"It's about how we're going to spend our twenties," he replied in a whisper, giving a thumbs up. He turned to face Ishizu. "But seriously, I wanna thank you for watching over me with Serenity and everybody. Not everyone would do dat for fellow passengers. You're okay in my book."

"And my brother?" the tan woman inquired.

"He's still gotta earn his keep."

Ishizu laughed. "I guess that's to be expected." She looked over at Tristan, who simply nodded his acknowledgement. "Who's your friend?" she asked no one in particular as she stared at the pale green-eyed girl.

Of course she introduced herself. "My name's Nadia. I heard you were a finalist at Battle City." The Priestess Isis-Nefer! she realized as her eyes observed the Millennium Necklace wrapped around Ishizu's neck.

"Yes, I was defeated by Seto Kaiba during the semi-finals," Ishizu replied, remembering that fateful duel. "I thought I had countered his unique strategy until he surprised everyone by sacrificing Obelisk to summon his Blue-Eyes."

"Wait, he did what?" Nadia asked, very curious.

"Obelisk was on the field see," Joey started, taking over the conversation. "He only had his hand and like three cards in his deck, our friend here countering his discard strategy. She was predicting which cards he would play. Instead of attacking with Obelisk, like I would have done, old moneybags sends it to the graveyard. And out of nowhere comes his Blue-Eyes White Dragon and wipes out the rest of Ishizu's life-points."

"Yeah that was a pretty exciting duel," Tristan commented. "We were all sure that you were going to win. But you seemed pretty confident facing an Egyptian God card. Not like Joey here." At that, Joey growled. "Care to let us in on your secret?"

"Ah but if I told you, then how could I know that you would keep it private," Ishizu said, smiling. "Besides everyone enjoys a good mystery."

"You can say that again," Joey affirmed. Even Serenity nodded at this.

"Isn't that the Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" Nadia asked pointing at the tablet, carefully steering the conversation.

"Indeed it is," Ishizu confirmed. She bit her lip as if hesitating on telling more.

"Why don't you tell us the story about this tablet?" Nadia innocently inquired. She was then followed by pleads from the others for the story.

Ishizu gave in. "Legend states that in Egypt a battle was fought between a Pharaoh and his High Priest. This was after a long and brutal war. Inscriptions at the time recorded only part of the battle. History did not note a winner leaving only speculations as to who won this final conflict. Some have attributed this tablet to a mythological tale regarding the tale of Osiris. In this light, the High Priest was seen to be the embodiment of Set while the Pharaoh would be the embodiment of Osiris, or his son Horus to avenge his father," she explained. Everyone seemed to follow what she was saying.

"But that doesn't explain where the dragon comes from?" Nadia pressed on.

"We only have rumors regarding the monsters above the Pharaoh and the High Priest," Ishizu continued. "One is that the creatures were manifestations of people close to both participants. Another is that these monsters existed outside the realm of normal reality. Yet one more theory suggests that these creatures were created artificially, like how we would construct an automobile."

"And it is only by coincidence that these two monsters were played during the rematch between Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba?" Nadia followed up.

"To cast those two in the role of Pharaoh and High Priest would be highly circumstance," Ishizu clarified, here giving her academic response. "However events prior to and during the Finals at Battle City have made me question that response."

"Do you really think Yugi's a part of history?" Joey asked.

Ishizu took her time before answering. "Yugi is a special young man. I don't doubt that fate has a role for him to play."

"And Seto Kaiba?" Nadia asked.

Everyone could see Ishizu grimace. "I'm sure he's determined enough to make his way through life. He often gets his way," she said politely.

"And that's the way I like it," a cold voice answered.

"Kaiba!" Joey snarled. "Can't you see we're having a discussion over here?"

"Actually the museum is closing in five minutes," Ishizu said glancing at a wall clock. "No exceptions!" she emphasized for Kaiba's sake.

"That's too bad," Seto Kaiba said, his eyes wandering over the small group. His eyes seem to linger long on Serenity and Nadia. "I thought I would repay the kindness, Miss Ishtar," he said, looking her straight in her blue eyes, "since you held a private exhibition for me the day this exhibit opened, by taking you out for dinner."

The older woman turned away and blushed. "I'm flattered, really. It's just that…" Ishizu began searching for an excuse that would take her away from the tall CEO.

"Kaiba Corp can handle the process of moving and shipping these artifacts," Kaiba said. "And the museum would receive a wonderfully large donation."

"I think I'm going to be sick," Tristan snidely remarked. Joey agreed.

Seto Kaiba shot them a mean glance. "I'd be careful what you say around me. We wouldn't want any accidents."

"Are you threatening me?" Joey asked, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists. "I'm warning you."

"Heel, mutt. I wouldn't dare cause a scene in such a public place. Especially with many witnesses," Kaiba stated. His eyes hovered over Serenity's lithe frame, as if he was mentally checking something. "You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of your sister."

Joey noticed that Kaiba's eyes lingered too long on Serenity. "Get your eyes off my baby sister!"

"Must be tough having an overprotective brother," Seto said to Serenity. "I, at least, let Mokuba make friends. Even if they are annoying." He watched as Serenity turn several shades of red before letting his eyes rest on Nadia. His face became a mask of confusion. "And you are…?"

"I'm new," Nadia said bluntly. I can't reveal to the High Priest Sethos who I am, she thought. If he knew who I was, she quickly shot a menacing glance at Serenity, or who I should be, then he would stop at nothing at rekindling our ancient flame.

"So it seems," Kaiba said in mild confusion. He turned again to Ishizu. "I can get a table at any restaurant in downtown Domino. You wouldn't want to leave without seeing the night skyline. It is quite the sight."

Ishizu was momentarily speechless. Half of her was debating actually going with Seto; the other half talking herself out of it. "I'm…really not prepared."

"You need not dally. We can go anywhere you need to," Seto explained.

Tristan seemed to have lost his cool. "That's it! I can't stand this anymore. I'm leaving!" And with that he began walking out.

"Tristan!" both Wheelers' called out as they turned to go after him. Only Nadia remained behind, momentarily.

"My offer does not last all evening," Seto Kaiba explained, seemingly growing impatient.

"Ishizu!" Nadia called out, drawing the older woman away from Kaiba's piercing glance. When the Egyptian recovered her senses, she continued. "Is there a way to contact you? I'd like to discuss matters further before you leave." She took out a small notepad and pen.

"This is where I'm staying," the older woman stated. "I'm only there until the end of the week." She still seemed to be debating Seto's offer.

"Thanks so much!" Nadia said. She leaned in to Ishizu's ear. "You know you want to. Go ahead and enjoy yourself." She winked before she ran off to find the others.

"Well?" Kaiba asked as he loomed into Ishizu's eyesight.

"As long as its only dinner," she replied, wondering if she made the right decision.

Later,

The two were seated in the back of Kaiba's limo as it headed into downtown Domino. "There is much that I wish to discuss with an archeologist of your caliber," Seto said.

"The last time we discussed things from the past, you seemed very disinterested," Ishizu reminded.

Seto gave a mock shrug. "Well that was then," he explained, taking something out of his overcoat. "It was before I knew who I truly was." The Millennium Rod stood firmly in his hands.

Ishizu gasped. "You wouldn't…," she started, touching her own golden necklace unconsciously.

"No," Seto said, tucking the item back in his belt. "But I wish to know, if our alliance is still intact, Isis-Nefer."