AN: I don't own Yugioh.

Chapter4: A Princely Occupation

Yuugi Mutou walked slowly home. His eyes were lowered to the ground and he looked rather depressed. So far he had made no friends at school. But that didn't matter; he had his Mou Hitori No boku, his other self, close to him. He'd discovered the spirit inside the puzzle that his grandfather had given to him for his seventh birthday. It took him eight years to finish the puzzle, and now he proudly wore it around his neck. The only thing was that it made the kids at school give him funny looks.

"Hey, Star head," some of the boy's would shout. "What's up with that stupid necklace that you're wearing all the time?"

"It's not a necklace, it's a puzzle, and it's not stupid," he'd told them. "It's very important, and very special."

"Really?" said one boy with a smirk. "Let me guess you think it's like those dragon balls from the show don't you."

"Well I," Yuugi would stutter to explain, but the boys would keep laughing.

"He probably believes in Santa too…" someone would shout and Yuugi would hurry to get out of there as fast as he could. He liked school but didn't like the kids. The only places he felt welcome were in the game shop, and in the tournaments that he played in. But even then there were problems. Some of the contestants thought he was cheating, and they hardly ever talked to him. It wasn't his fault that his Mou Hitori No boku was so good at games.

Aibou the voice asked him. Is something wrong?

Huh? Oh no, not at all. I'm fine really.

You look upset.

No I'm fine. Just a rough day at school, nothing to worry about really, honest. You get some sleep now, we've got a tournament in two days and we have to be ready. Right?

Hummm And the voice vanished into his mind again. Yuugi took a deep breath before he went into his grandfather's game shop. He put on a happy smile and pushed the door open.

"Grandpa, Mom, I'm home." He shouted and his grandfather looked up from behind the counter.

"Yuugi, how are you. How was school then?"

"Okay, not much to tell."

"Did you have fun with your friends?"

"Huh?" Yuugi looked at a poster of the Black Magician, his favorite card. "Yeah tons. We did all sorts of things."

"Really, like what?" His grandfather pressed and Yuugi grimaced.

"Well, nothing that would interest you really," he laughed nervously and put his arm behind his head. His grandfather knew that he was lying but chose not to press him. Yuugi was a sensitive boy, and Sugoroku thought that he deserved to have close friends. Every night he prayed for that to happen. Yuugi threw his back pack over the counter and pulled open the small door to let himself go inside by the register.

"Grandpa, why don't you take a break, and I'll mind the shop for a while. Mom should be getting back soon, and I know that she would love to have a cup of your world famous tea."

Sugoroku laughed and ruffled Yuugi's hair, "Alright, but remember to try and be patience with the younger children that come in here."

Yuugi nodded, "I'll remember."

Sugoroku knew he had nothing to worry about as he ascended the staircase to the apartment above the shop. He smiled thinking how proud he was of his grandson. Yuugi watched him go, then let out a sigh and put his head down on the counter and covered it with his arms. He hated lying to his grandfather, but what was he going to tell him? That he had no friends. That the only person that liked him was the spirit that resided inside his Sennen Puzzle? That he hung out with a Namonaki Pharaoh, someone who had no name and no past to speak of and who possessed him when he started to duel. Yeah he could see how that conversation would go.

"Grandpa, Mom, there's something I've got to tell you."

"Oh, and what's that?" his Grandfather would say in his normal jovial tones.

"Um, well…I think I'm possessed."

His mother would freak out or just start to laugh. She was worried enough as it was; Yuugi had caught her once studying the puzzle and she asked him if he was feeling okay. When he questioned her as to why she asked that, his mom admitted that she over heard him talking to himself, and that she was worried about him. Yuugi groaned, oh yeah that would work out real well.

Outside the shop Spencer pulled along the curb with her car. She put it in park and looked over at the laptop she had open. She had met with Ryuuji who had been watching Yuugi earlier at school. He had seemed subdued when she met him, and he just smiled saying he was thinking of things. When she left him, Elysia noted that Ryuuji was looking at some boys in Domino High uniforms. He came from here too didn't he? Maybe old memories are coming back. I should ask him about it. I mean, after all, he knows about me, but I don't know a lot about him.

"Are you sure this is the place?" she asked the streamed video.

"Yes, I'm sure," said Charles in a sweet tone. "Why is something wrong then, my dear?"

"No, it just looks so…" she was finding it hard to find a word to describe the Kame Game shop. The place wasn't rundown or old looking. Actually it was quite quaint, but very small, and she wondered why a reported, "Game King" would hang out in a place like this. She shook her head and laughed, "Rural that's all."

"Rural?" Charles asked her and she quickly explained.

"Well, mainly it's because you don't see such small shops like this in big cities."

"I see," Charles intoned. "Still, that is where he is, and that is where you will go. Now go to work, Spencer."

"Yes, boss." Elysia turned off the computer and slid out of the car. She swiftly walked to the door and pulled it open. Inside Yuugi pulled his head up when he heard the 'Chingal-ching' of the bells that his mother hung over the door to alert Yuugi, or his grandfather, that someone had just come in. Yuugi was a bit taken a back by Spencer because she didn't seem like the type of person that would come into a game shop at all. Lysia started to survey the cards on display, the posters on the wall, and the other import items that hung behind the counter. Yuugi cleared his throat, and Elysia turned around and smiled at him. He blushed.

"Ah, hello, welcome to the Kame Game shop. Is there something I can help you with," that was what Yuugi had tried to say but it had come out like, "AhellwelcomtoKameshop."

Elysia smirked lightly, but smiled back and said, "Um, I didn't quite catch that."

"I said," Yuugi calmed down a bit. "Welcome to the Kame Game shop. Can I help you with something?"

"Well, yes actually you can," Elysia stared to say when Yuugi's mother came in through the door. She took one look at Lysia then at her son, and back to Liz and finally looked to Yuugi –and his slightly red face.

"A friend of yours Yuugi?"

"Ah, no Mom," Yuugi admitted and his mother looked sad. She'd hoped that she could finally meet the people that her son hung out with. She was starting to worry about him. Yuugi had once dressed properly when going to school. Oh, he let his jacket hang open, and kept his collar unbuttoned, but now he was wearing a tight belt around his neck, a black sleeveless shirt under his school uniform, and at times she caught him putting on arm bands and other metallic materials.

Elysia stuck her hand out to Yuugi's mother, "Please to meet you."

Yuugi's mom took it and shook, "And who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself to you Yuugi," Lysia turned to him and smiled, pulling out her card. "My name's Elysia Spencer and I have an offer for you."

Yuugi took the card; it was a white business card with a silver angel, on the bottom was a website address and a set of numbers. ELysia smiled at him as she leaned over the counter and pointed out the information. "See, this is the website, and if you're interested, you can talk with me using those numbers."

He looked up at her and then down at the card, and wondered if it was all a big practical joke set up by the kids at school. He set the card gently down on the counter, and nodded his head. There was something very pretty about the simple little card, and he didn't want it to be messed up.

"Well what's the offer?" Yuugi asked her slowly. His Mou Hitori No boku was waking up and listening.

Curious isn't it, Aibou

Yeah it is.

Do you trust her?

I don't know? But she doesn't seem to be lying to me.

His mother looked down at the card, and picked it up. She examined it and then asked.

"Where do you go to school, Ms. Spencer?"

Elysia looked puzzled, but replied, "Namikin Private Academy." –she'd memorized several dozen schools within the area incase questions were asked and applied the best school to fit the situation. However she wasn't expecting the cold glare that Yuugi's mother was giving her.

"Oh, really, you go to Namikin Acadamy," She frowned at Spencer as she spoke. "Well I know exactly what type of girl you are. Now get out of my store."

Yuugi felt mortified, "Mom, I don't think…"

"Yuugi, I will not have those type of girls coming around here," his mother shot back at him. She looked at Lysia, "Please leave."

"I'm sorry, but this is not you're concern, Ma'am," Elysia motioned to her son. "It's Yuugi's. And I think he would be quite happy with the offer if he just talked to me."

Mrs. Mutou looked outraged. "How dare you even imply that young lady! Now get out of this store right this instant."

Elysia turned and looked sadly at Yuugi, her resolve surged, "Ma'am, I don't think you quite understand. This offer has nothing to do with sex…"

"Oh really," said Mrs. Mutou sarcastically. She couldn't believe the gall of this girl. "Then what is it about."

Lysia took a quick breath and said forcefully, looking straight at Yuugi as she spoke, "Yuugi, I came her to offer you a chance to find some answers to questions that you've been pondering for a while. I know you're hiding a secret, and we can help you find the key to solve that riddle."

"We?" Yuugi asked intrigued now. "We, who?"

"I can't name names here," she indicated his mother. "But like I said if you just use the card, I can answer as many of you're questions as you like."

Yuugi nodded, and Elysia walked out the store. In that moment Mrs. Mutou grabbed the card off the counter and tore it into pieces. Yuugi cried out, "No, Mom, what are you doing?"

"Getting rid of this trash, I won't have my son doing indecent things," she said and hurried upstairs. Her son was changing right before her eyes and there was no way she was going to let him get into any more trouble. Yuugi hopped over the counter and picked up the pieces. He was happy to find that the website and the numbers were still intact. Regardless of what his mother thought he wanted to know exactly what this girl wanted with him.

Outside Spencer leaned against the building, and let out a sigh.

"You shouldn't have used Namikin Acadamy, the girls there have a reputation for being very loose," Seto said startling her. She turned quickly and then scowled.

"What the hell are you doing here, you jerk! You were following me weren't you? How did you get out of the house, it's being watched…"

"Yeah, I know," Seto said coolly watching her with a narrowed gaze. "Quite a set up you have there Spencer. Video surveillance all over the place, recording devices and other gadgets. Your boss sure trusts me; doesn't he."

"That stuff wasn't installed for you it was there long before we even knew about you," Spencer explained. "We just have the video equipment set up now. Making sure no one gets to you."

"Huh, and why was it installed in the first…"

"That's none of your concern. Now tell me why you're here." Elysia glared at him. Seto looked away and smirked.

"Simple, I needed some files so I went and I got them…"

"Files…what? Wait are you telling me you got into Kaiba Corporation? Fool, idiot! Don't you realize that they are looking for you? Right now you we could be watched."

"I thought you might say that, but isn't that why you're boss sent you to me first. To protect me?"

Oh he's good, he's very good, Spencer thought and frowned at Seto as he went on.

"Anyway, the point is I got out of the house. I must complement you on the fact that whoever set the place up knows quite a bit about programs."

"Knew," she said quietly. Seto watched her for a second, shrugged, and went on.

"It took me longer then I thought it would, in any case you should be more careful when you leave, I saw exactly how you worked that switch to move the fountain. You'll have to fix that up."

Spencer glared at him, at that moment she wanted to kick him hard between the legs, but shoved that feeling way down to the pit of her stomach. No way would she let anyone like Seto Kaiba goad her into a fight, "I'll have it looked into."

"Good, and one other thing, the next time you go in to talk to someone who's mother is standing right there, don't act like you're God's gift to men. Because, quite frankly, while you're appearance is attractive, you'd never make it as a model."

Like you've ever dated any… Elysia thought bitterly, but she nodded her head. "Fine. But a reminder to you Mr. Kaiba. I am in charge of this operation. Not you, me! You are working for us now, and do not forget that."

Seto smirked at her as he turned and walked towards the parked motorcycle, "Are you so sure of that, Spencer. How do you know that you're not working for me?"

With that he hit the clutch and rode out of there, leaving Lysia standing in the twilight. She kicked a can that rolled near her feet and stomped back to the car. It was then that the laptop went off, and Charles face appeared to her on screen. She scowled at first and then looked at him with a sad face.

"Something wrong?"

"Kaiba," she spat. "He broke out…"

"Of the house, I know. I'm glad he didn't have much trouble."

"You wanted him to?"

"Just a little test, I left a note on your files that directed him to return to Kaiba Corporation to retrieve some class A files that we had not looked into yet. I believe he passed with flying colors, don't you?"

Elysia made no comment. Ryuuji probably knew about this and didn't let me in on it. The jerk. He probably planted the note in fact.

"And how is Yuugi?"

"Other then the fact that his mother thought I was a whore, not much to look at. I still don't see…"

"Patience, have some my dear, would you? I know he's not much now, but trust me, after tomorrow you will be glad that we have him in our ranks."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked and he pulled back his white hair to reveal a gold eye. Even though she'd lived with him since she was small, every time he did that it made her shiver.

"Let's just say I've seen what he's thinking, and I think if there was something to give him the right nudge, he'd come to us."

"The right nudge, what do you…?"

"Take a rest tonight, my dear, tomorrow will be another day." Charles said closing the link. Elysia slipped down into her seat. She moaned and rubbed her eyes and looked up into the sky.

"Ryou, why? Why did you have to leave?"