Rose Wars

By Ash Kaiba and Katie Mae

DISCLAIMER: We do not own any of the Yu-Gi-Oh! characters or Yu-Gi-Oh: Duelists of the Roses video game for PS 2. We do own the original characters: Katharine, Ashlyn, and any other character you don't recognize.

Ash Kaiba: Hey, I wrote chapter three! Finally! Katie Mae, do you have anything to say? (Even though this is my chapter.) Oh, yeah. Charlotte actually has white hair (kinda like Kisara.)

Katie Mae: Well, all I have to say is I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and be on the lookout for Chapter 4! Also, we're taking creative license and making England have a hot spring. It may not be true, but we came up with the idea for the story, and we can do whatever we want with it.

Chapter 3: Broken Heart

italics- Charlotte

italics- thought

"Seto?"

He turned to face her. Her brown eyes shined in delight. The white hair tickled his cheeks. She lowered her head. Then, the two kissed. Seto pushed the snow back with his hand as hers toyed with the wood. Charlotte lifted her head back up. She appeared concerned.

"Charlotte, what is it?"

"You need to wake up."

"I am awake."

"Wake up."

Birds chirped at his window. Seto groaned as he pulled his left hand up to cover his eyes. He forced his body to a sitting position.

"How's Susan handling this?"

Father?

"Not so well. Charlotte was our only child. How's your son?"

"He was asleep when I last checked on him." Charles answered as their voices faded away.

"Charlotte?"

Seto tossed the covers aside. When did I get dressed? He wondered. Oh, well, he added while tossing the tunic off and replacing it with a clean one. He did the same with the breeches. His hands tugged the boots onto his feet.

He approached the door and peeked through the crack. His body slipped through. A growl reminded him that he hadn't eaten in a while. Seto walked down to the kitchen.

"Charles, lunch!"

The brunette walked in with a redhead. Father…Wallace…

"Seto, you're up. Come, have something to eat."

His body obeyed his mother's push. His father looked up as he chewed a bite of cheese. The hazel eyes stared at his son. Shock glowed on his face. Wallace stared as well. His mother turned to see what his father was staring at.

What's wrong? He wondered as he sat down. His arm fired for a roll. Yet, his mother slapped the table. Seto pulled his arm back. His eyes stared wide-eyed at her, unable to understand. He hadn't eaten lunch or dinner the day before. Then, he'd missed breakfast that morning.

"For crying out loud, Mary, let the lad eat." Charles snapped.

"I am, but he knows better."

Wallace's voice jumped to his defense. "For Pete's sake, just let him eat!"

Mary fell silent. Seto swiped the roll and bit into it. Its sweet taste flooded his senses. Whatever he had the night before didn't compare to his mother's bread.

"Seto, I hope you realize that your fiancé isn't coming back."

The teen looked up at his father. Bread crumbs jumped off his lips. Fiancé?

"Seto! Our parents agreed, Seto! We're going to get married!"

His face darkened. Flashes of her body filled his mind. Tears of sadness and grief seeped out of his closed eyes. Charlotte…

"Seto…"

He pushed his mother away from him. The boy rose out of his seat.

"I'm going to do my chores now." His voice displayed his grief.

"Seto?"

The boy stopped.

"I believe…Charlotte would want you to have this."

Seto turned and directed his gaze to the object in Wallace's hand. All it took for him to register it was a glint.

"Her necklace," he whispered. "Thank you."

"You can come by later if you need some work to do."

Seto attempted to smile, but nothing came. Wallace looped the leather around the teen's neck. He stared at the blue jewel that always hung around Charlotte's neck. The metal held it in place. His fingers stroked it. He didn't notice Wallace's hand on his shoulder. A strange silence held onto his voice, muffling it to nothing.

"Seto…"

"Seto?"

The boy jumped. He pulled away from the adults and ran out the door. Tears flew from his face. He forgot about the animals in the coral and barn. All he really cared about was that the love of his life will never marry him. His feet stumbled up the hill, where he and Charlotte met the day before. Seto collapsed to his knees at the trunk, weeping nonstop. His fingers clawed at the bark.

Later…

Seto roamed the dirt streets of the village. After calming down, he absently fed the animals. Then, he walked around, trying to get his mind off of Charlotte's funeral (which he missed that morning). Everyone stared. Their eyes directed on him.

"Don't get near him," a woman whispered to her children.

"He's a curse upon him," another voice added.

Whispers floated into the minds of the people that knew him since he was born. He glanced around, struggling to keep track where one started and ended. They continued, pointing. Why are they doing this? What is wrong? Why are they staring at me?

"Eeek!"

Seto paused…as something brushed him. No…something plowed him down. Seto coughed as the dust rose from the road. He stayed down, unsure if another thing was going to tackle him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" A high voice apologized.

Seto pushed himself up to a sitting position. His eyes fell onto a fourteen-year-old girl. Black locks were held hostage by a pink ribbon. Light tan hands cupped over her eyes. A light green dress draped off her light frame. The ruffles swung back and forth as she turned side to side. He jumped to his feet. His not so pale fingers gripped the girl's arms. After all, he worked in the inn, on the field, and at neighbor's houses. That was only when the men had to redo roofs, beds begging for repair, and other stuff.

"Katharine!"

"I'm sorry! I should really…"

"Why did you leave the sheep?"

Katharine pulled her hands down and looked up at him. They stared at each other for some time in silence.

"What happened to you?" He asked, being very blunt.

"Huh?"

"Your eyes…they're different. They're purple."

His sister fell silent. Seto tried to think of a way to cheer her up.

"They remind me of lilacs." He added, praying it would work.

Katharine pulled her lips into smile and chuckled. He gave her a half smile, something he does to replace "Thank goodness." It was in his nature. That's all he knew.

"I met this mysterious woman at the stones. She gave me some milk…"

"Katharine, you know Mother doesn't like us accepting from strangers."

"I know!" She wailed, her brother trying to quiet her down. "What about you?"

"What?"

"What about your eyes?"

"They're the same…" he paused as Katharine shook her head. "They…aren't…?"

"They're blue."

Seto declined. Katharine sighed as she grabbed the front of his tunic's collar. She pulled, surprising her brother of her strength. A dog tied to a rope, Seto was led by his little sister to the well. She forced him to look down. The water reflected the sunlight.

"Look."

"I am. I only see my reflection."

She sighed. "Then, look closer."

Seto leaned closer. His eyes widened. Sapphire orbs stared back at him. The dragon's face flashed in his mind.

"See?" Katharine pointed out. "They're as blue as the summer sky." Both of them looked up to see a bolt of lightning flash across the sky. The normally blue sky was covered by a thick layer of dark gray clouds.

"Look out!"

People scattered. A sudden throb pulsed in his sinuses.

"Get the sheep and return home!"

"It's going to rain?"

"Yes. I'll check out what's going on.'

Seto ran away from the well and his sister. He pushed the crowd out of his way. He scanned for the cause of the noise. The new blue eyes paused on a man lying on the ground. His horse, a stallion, bucked. Its mind overwhelmed his for a moment. The storm was spooking the horse. Seto jumped onto the back.

"Look," a voice pointed out. "Look at Seto."

Tommy, he growled. The crowd stopped and watched. Seto reached for the reins, keeping one hand gripping the saddle. His hand twirled the leather and took hold. His feet anchored themselves in the stirrups.

"Easy, easy," he whispered.

The stallion slowly calmed, placing its trust in Seto's hands. He whispered in its ear as he guided it to its master. The man possessed platinum blonde hair that grew to his shoulders. Seto jumped off the saddle. He approached the man, the horse bumping him with its muzzle. Seto strained to pick the man up onto the horse. His burden lightened.

"Wallace?"

Wallace positioned the man on the saddle.

"Get him to the Rose and Briar. Hurry!"

Seto leapt back on the saddle. He wrapped his left arm around the man's chest. A thunderclap echoed as rain spattered the ground. Seto faced the direction of his home. Wallace slapped the rump of the horse. The stallion lunged forward. Everyone scattered out of the way. Raindrops bombed his face. The man groaned.

"Hang on…" Seto growled. Then, it was followed by a click of the tongue.

The horse obeyed, turning left with directional help of the rider's foot. As he approached the barn, his father paused. Upon seeing the unconscious man, he aided his unload the horse. Charles carried the man inside, silent. Seto directed the stallion into the barn. It followed him into an empty stable. The hands undid the saddle and draped it over the rail. Next to it, Seto smoothed out the blanket. The stallion smacked its lips when he removed the bridle. His filled the trough and gave it some hay. Pleased with his work, Seto left the barn.

"How is he?"

"Our guest is still sleeping," his father answered.

Seto felt that his father was uneasy. He didn't know why, and never questioned him.

Near the cave…

A hot spring bubbled, pushing a round object up. A large air bubble launched it into the air. The silvery-white rock bounced, never cracking. It nestled among the rocks near the mouth of the cave. There, it waited.

Ash Kaiba: Hey, I think I just did a cliffhanger! Yes! And you can't find out anything about the rock or the unconscious man…or even why Charles is uneasy. You have to read Chapter 4. (snickers)