Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song No Matter What belongs to the artist and the company that recorded it and was used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.

WARNING: This story contains sensitive cultural practices and references that might offend some readers. The views and opinions of the cultures which condone these practices are not shared by this author, but they are included in this story for awareness purposes only.

Time to Duel, Mariko!

By

Hideki LaShae

Chapter Five

Forever Love

"Are you ready, Marie?" asks Yugi securing the duel disk on his wrist.

Marie places her duel disk on her wrist. The Millennium Scale now hangs in a special harness strapped to her right thigh.

Two of a pair
Now on opposite sides…

"Are you ready to duel, Marie?" asks Yugi walking out into the middle of the street and looking at Marie.

"I'm ready if you are, Yugi!" exclaims Marie smiling wickedly at Yugi.

Yugi nods. "Yu-Gi-Oh!"

Marie squints as she watches the power overtaking her brother's form. She notices the slight differences in the way his spiky hair falls about his face, and the way his eyes look more determined. She even sees how much taller he is now that he has joined his mind with the ancient pharaoh. "Let the duel begin! In the name of fairness, I will grant you the first move, Yami!"

Marie and Yami both draw their five cards from their decks.

"By all means, Marie, ladies first," says Yami with a deeper voice than he normally uses.

"If you insist," says Marie placing a card on top of her duel disk, "I will play Leghul in defense mode, and I'll also place one card for later." She slides a card into a slot on her duel disk.

"Not a very strong monster," says Yami, "Why would you play that?"

"I have a few reasons," says Marie.

'Let me help you, Marie,' whispers a deep, masculine voice within Marie's mind.

'I won't let you, Mariko! You tried to hurt Mokuba last time! I will never let you control me again!' thinks Marie, 'Can't you just get out of my head, you stupid jerk! When will you ever learn that this is my body and you cannot have it!'

The man appears to Marie's mind's eye. He stands just a head taller than Marie with wild blond hair highlighted with black streaks. His eyes are a piercing black, and his pants, the only article of clothing he wears, are made of the pitchest black fabric. He whispers, 'Let me help you win.'

'I will win on my own, Mariko!' thinks Marie. She sees Mariko in front of her in the darkness, and she sees her own mental body standing in the void of her mind.

'You can't do it alone. You will be begging me later. This boy is your brother as well as the ancient Pharaoh, and you know that you can't defeat him,' whispers Mariko, 'I can defeat him. Besides, I don't want or need your body, Marie. It's useless to me now that I know that you've been soiled!'

Marie slaps Mariko.

"I'll play Beaver Warrior in attack mode!" exclaims Yami placing a card on the field, "And have him attack your Leghul!"

Mariko scowls. 'Let me defeat him for you, Marie…'

"Not so fast, Yugi-boy!" exclaims Marie pushing the button to activate her magic card, "Negate attack!" She draws a card and switches her Leghul card for another monster. "I'll sacrifice my Leghul to play the Dark Magician! Attack his Beaver Warrior with Dark Light!"

The holographic projectors bring the scene to life for everyone to see.

'I don't care what you think, Marie… I want to win this duel at all costs, and I will defeat the pharaoh!' exclaims Mariko, 'I must have his power!'

Marie pulls her right hand away from her duel deck. She reaches her hand down to her side and unbuckles the Millennium Scale from the straps that holds it to her thigh. She raises it mindlessly into the air above her head. "Ma-Ri-Ko!"

A swirling wind starts up around Marie and whips her clothing fiercely around her body.

"Marie! No!" screams Seto with widening eyes.

Marie's triple colored, spiky hair flares out within the confines of her ponytail holder. Her bangs stand up into high, arched spikes. Her white T-shirt crawls up her stomach to reveal her tanned skin. The purple jacket grows longer to extend to the middle of her thighs.

Marie's pants shorten into a deep purple set of hip-hugger Capris, and the white pumps she wears change into a set of white stiletto heels to add a good four inches to her height. She places the Millennium Scale back in the holster upon her thigh.

"Marie!" exclaims Mokuba.

"I am not Marie! I AM MARIKO!" exclaims Mariko with a deeper, more masculine voice. She places two cards into the slots on her duel disk. "Now I play Hinotama!"

Yami takes one step backwards as the magic card is revealed. He looks at Mariko with wide eyes as his life points go down to reflect the most recent attack. "Who are you, Mariko? What do you want and why have you taken over control of my sister? Are you working with Marik?"

"Marik? I know no Marik!" exclaims Mariko, "And what I want is quite simple! I want the power of the Pharaoh! I have waited long enough! When you trapped me, Yami, you thought that you had seen the last of me! Now I return, more powerful than ever thanks to you! You have a truly powerful sister! Now it is time for me to banish little Yugi to the shadow realm forever!" She holds the Millennium Scale up above her head. "I am a servant of Anubis! This is your trial, Yugi Motou! Behold the Scales of Truth!"

A feather appears in one of the trays of the scale.

Yami stares at Mariko. He speaks with his deep voice that is so unlike Yugi's soft tone, "Marie? What are you doing?"

"I summon Ammit!" exclaims Mariko with wide purple eyes.

Yami is the only one who sees the monster rise up behind Mariko. He glares at her. "Enough with these games, Mariko! What are you doing here?"

"You trapped me within the Millennium Scale, Yami. I have now found a body, the perfect body, the one you once loved the most… even if she did not love you in return," says Mariko, "Now that I have found this body, I will complete the task I set upon in ancient times! I will rule the world!"

"Never! As long as I live you will never rule the world!" exclaims Yami. The eye on his Millennium Puzzle flares a brilliant white light.

'Help me, Yugi!' thinks Marie desperately. She screams as loud as she can in her mind, 'Yugi, help me!'

"Marie?" asks Yami.

Time's running out…

"No!" screams Mariko.

Ammit disintegrates like the holographic monsters once they're destroyed.

A strong flash of light from the Millennium Puzzle hurls Marie backwards, and she falls on her back five feet from where she had been standing. Her clothing returns to normal… the jacket shrinking back to her waist, the white shirt lengthening to cover her mid-riff, her pants legs growing longer, and her shoes changing back into her white pumps. Her hair falls from its electrostatic charge to fall in odd crimped spikes around her face, and the end of her ponytail no longer stands up rigidly.

"Marie?" asks Yami, "Are you all right?"

Marie groans as she tries to sit up.

Seto rushes to Marie's side and helps her to sit up. He wraps his arm behind her back and supports her.

"Yugi?" asks Marie looking at her brother.

Yami closes his eyes. When he opens his eyes again, he is no longer Yami, but Yugi instead. He hurries over to Marie. "Yes, Marie! It's me!"

"What did Yami do to me? Mariko's gone," says Marie.

"Mariko's gone?" asks Seto with wide eyes.

Marie nods her head. She grips the Millennium Scale and looks at it. "Yes, Seto… He's gone. He's no longer within me."

"Yami sent him to the shadow realm," says Yugi kneeling in front of Marie, "Are you all right?"

"No… No, I'm not. Seto, can you take me home?" asks Marie weakly.

"Of course, Marie," says Seto standing up. He helps Marie to her feet and then he scoops her up into his arms. He glares at Yugi, although not menacingly as he normally would. His glare looks slightly… grateful. He turns around. "Come on, Mokuba!"

Marie wraps her arms around Seto's neck and rests her head against his chest.

"Marie?" asks Solomon.

"Grandpa…" Yugi shakes his head as he stands up. "Let her go."

Seto carries Marie down the street towards the limousine in front of the game shop.

"Thank you for helping Marie, Yugi. Seto really appreciates it, but you know him… He'd never tell you himself." Mokuba smiles at Yugi. He follows Seto quickly.

"Hey, Yuge, do you think that Mariko character can return?" asks Joey watching Seto carry Marie away.

"I hope not," says Yugi, "He was taking a toll on her mind. He was trying to drive her crazy."

We'll show them what we're made of
As we fight for the ones we love…

Marie lies in her bed with a cold washcloth on her forehead.

"How do you feel, Marie?" asks Seto stroking her hand gently.

"I feel like I did before Mariko came to me," says Marie sighing. She rolls over onto her side and looks at Seto. She smiles. "I feel much better, Seto, but there is something that keeps bothering me."

"Is it what you said? What Mariko said about the past?" asks Seto.

"Yes." Marie nods. "He said Pharaoh Yami loved me in the past, but I didn't love him. I don't understand. What could he have been talking about?"

Seto pulls Marie into an embrace. "I don't know, Marie."

"I shouldn't let it bother me," says Marie holding onto Seto. She pushes herself slightly away and sits up on her bed. She smiles. "I'm really happy that he's gone! Mariko's finally gone!"

"Gone for good?" asks Seto.

"I'll make sure of it!" exclaims Marie.

Seto smiles. He kisses Marie quickly. "Good. I'm glad."

"Yugi was the one who banished Mariko to the shadow plane," says Marie, "I don't know if I can use the powers of the Millennium Scale now without Mariko, but I don't know if I actually need to use the powers of the scale."

"You don't. You have me," says Seto.

Marie looks into Seto's dark eyes and finds herself totally lost within them. She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls herself up tight against him, and the whole while she stares entranced into his eyes. "Can I stay with you?"

"Forever," says Seto staring into Marie's purple eyes.

Marie gives Seto a long and slow kiss on the lips. When she pulls away from the kiss, she whispers, "I want to tell you I love you."

"I want to say the same thing," whispers Seto.

How'd it come to this
After all we've been through…

"Thank you, Seto," says Marie.

"Marie!" exclaims Mokuba walking into the bedroom. He turns his eyes away and blushes when he sees Marie in Seto's arms.

"Mokuba!" exclaims Marie sliding away from Seto and blushing, "What is it?"

"You have a phone call," says Mokuba, "It's Yugi. He called to see if you were all right now."

"I should go talk to him," says Marie standing, "Seto… are you upset that Yugi is my brother?"

"No, Marie. You cannot choose your family. I don't want him to be related to you, but there is nothing we can do about that," says Seto, "I am fine with him being your brother. Just so long as he isn't calling you here all the time."

"Thank you, Seto," says Marie smiling, "I'll take the call in the den." She heads out of her bedroom and down to the den. She lifts the receiver to her ear and pushes the buttons to pick up her call. "This is Marie… Hello, Yugi!"

Hi, Marie. I'm sorry to call, but I just wanted to see if you're doing okay, comes Yugi's voice from the other end of the line.

"You are my brother, Yugi, and Seto said it would be acceptable for you to call me occasionally. Just so long as it doesn't happen too often," says Marie, "I'll give you the number to my private line next time I see you. I'm doing much better. I actually feel wonderful, and I have you to thank for it. So thank you for getting rid of Mariko for me. Seto thanks you too, but he will never tell you that… And there's something else I wanted to say to you too…"

What is it? asks Yugi.

"I wanted to tell you that if you need my help you'd get it. You just need to ask," says Marie, "Ishizu told me that something big was about to happen here, and that it would involve the Millennium Items. So if you need my help, you can ask for it, and I'll help you."

Ishizu was right. Something is happening. I mentioned Marik in our duel earlier. He's trying to get my Millennium Puzzle and three very rare cards…

"The Egyptian God cards. Yes, I know. I lived with Ishizu, and she told me about the cards. That Marik though… Could he be Marik Ishtar?" asks Marie, "He's Ishizu's brother. Marik and Ishizu Ishtar were the guards of some tomb in Egypt I think, maybe Marik still is, but Ishizu is guarding other things as well…"

Like the Egyptian God cards, says Yugi, I don't know if it could be Marik Ishtar or not. He's not too keen on giving me his last name. But this Marik person has a big plan that involves the God cards and my Puzzle, and I don't want him to get any of it!

"You may need my help against Marik, and I'll gladly offer it! When you need me, just call me!" exclaims Marie with a slight smile, "That's what family is for, and it will also be thanks for you helping me with Mariko."

Are you sure you're all right?

"Yes, Yugi. I'm fine," says Marie.

Grandpa wants you to come live with us.

"I can't. You know that I can't. We may be blood related, but we're not family. You know that."

I do, says Yugi, But Grandpa doesn't. We're family to him, even if we haven't been together all this time. I don't think he sees anything wrong with what he and Grandma decided to do to us. The separation part I mean. They should have never separated us, but what's done is done. They did what they thought was right at the time, and it did give us a chance to grow up as individuals instead of as twins.

"You are so optimistic! Sure, you can find the good in any situation, but who wants to do that! I suppose I have to forgive him now… He didn't really have anything to do with the events in Egypt, and I suppose I was a little unfair blaming everything on him!" exclaims Marie giggling, "Well, Yugi, I need to go! I'll talk to you in Battle City sometime! I'm entering the tournament myself! We'll duel in the finals!"

I'll be waiting for our rematch! Today's duel was inconclusive, so you really don't have to forgive Grandpa just yet if you don't want to! If you do, that's okay though! Well, bye, Marie!

"Bye," says Marie. She sets the receiver down and takes a deep breath as she turns around. She smiles to herself and heads from the den to go find Mokuba and Seto.

Marie lies alone in bed, fast asleep in the midnight hour. She rolls over onto her side, and her pleasant dream of seeing Seto and Mokuba in Egypt changes drastically.

'Hello again, Marie… Did you miss me?' asks Mariko walking up to Marie.

"You aren't here! You can't be here!" exclaims Marie. She gasps as Mariko takes her hand.

'Oh, but I am here, Marie! You did a remarkable job of trying to get rid of me, but as long as you still want me, I'll still be here! And you know that you want me! You want me to do what you can't. You want me to win duels for you because you are weak! You have a weak body, a weak heart, and a weak mind!' exclaims Mariko, 'But I am strong! I have the power that you want!'

"I… I… I don't understand! Yugi sent you to the Shadow realm!" exclaims Marie, "How could you be back? Go away. Go away, Mariko, and never come back!"

Mariko lifts Marie's hand to his lips and kisses it. 'I can't do that. I don't care what you think of me, Marie, but I care for you. I care for you far more than Seto Kaiba… In our past, Yami loved you more than anything else in the world. But you didn't love him. You loved another man. We should have been together in that time as we are now, but it wasn't meant to be. Had we been together then, we both would have been killed. As it was, Yami imprisoned me within the scale. He imprisoned seven spirits in all. I was placed within the Millennium Scale. There was the Thief King Bakura who was imprisoned within the Millennium Ring. The Millennium Eye holds a dangerous foe or a possible ally… The Millennium Rod… We must find the one who wields the Millennium Rod. The spirit within is a great ally to us. He has always been our friend. The Millennium Necklace holds a spirit that was once our greatest ally, but now may prove to be our greatest foe. Ishizu has corrupted the spirit of the Necklace… The Millennium Key's spirit was also corrupted… Then Yami himself was trapped within the Millennium Puzzle."

"Go away, Mariko! And never come near me again! I love Seto!" screams Marie pulling her hand away from Mariko.

Marie falls out of bed and wakes up when she hits the floor. She lies on her stomach on the floor for a few minutes just trying to calm her racing heart. She pushes herself up onto her hands and knees. She whispers, "Stay away, Mariko… Stay away…"

Marie slowly climbs to her feet. She grabs her pink and purple robe from the chair at her vanity dresser and wraps it around herself. She ties it closed as she heads out of her room and down the hallway to the bathroom. She washes her face and hands before leaving the bathroom several minutes later. She heads quietly down the hall to Seto's room, and she raps gently on the door.

A muffled sound of confusion comes through the door.

Marie opens the door quietly and looks inside. She smiles when she sees Seto sleeping in the center of his King-sized bed. She walks into the room and closes the door behind her. She approaches the bed.

Seto opens one eye and looks at Marie wearily. "Did you have a nightmare, Marie?"

"Yes, Seto," whispers Marie fidgeting with her robe, "Could I sleep in here with you?"

Seto pulls the blankets aside so that Marie can see his bare chest. He pats the bed beside him.

Marie removes her robe and places it beside Seto's black robe on the chair beside the dresser. She slides into the bed beside Seto and pulls the blanket back over them as she lies down.

Seto rolls onto his side and wraps his arms around Marie. "Tell me all about your nightmare. It will make you feel better."

It's been you and me
Hanging out playing games
Didn't ever think it would get this hard…

Marie cuddles up as close as she can to Seto and whispers, "I was showing you and Mokuba around an excavation site in Egypt when suddenly you both were gone and Mariko was there with me. He talked about the past…"

"What did he say?" asks Seto brushing Marie's hair back away from her face.

"He said that Yami imprisoned him in the scale, and there was a spirit named Bakura that is in the Millennium Ring. The Eye holds a dangerous enemy, and the Rod has our greatest ally. He said the spirits in the Necklace and Key used to be evil but now are good… I think. Since he's evil, I think that's what he meant," says Marie, "but he didn't stop there. He practically told me he loves me… He said he cares for me more than you do!"

"No one could care for you more than I do," whispers Seto kissing Marie's forehead. He kisses her lips quickly.

"Mariko said Yami had loved me, but I had loved him and not Yami. He said that I want him to be with me. That I want him because I'm so weak." Marie buries her face in Seto's chest and cries silently as Seto rubs her back to comfort her.

"Was there anything else?" asks Seto still rubbing Marie's back.

"No… that was bad enough!" exclaims Marie.

"Don't worry now, Marie. I'll protect you. Go to sleep," says Seto, "and when you wake, everything will seem a thousand times better. I promise."

We're in this together…

"Thank you, Seto," says Marie. She wraps her arms around Seto and caresses his bare skin.

Seto chuckles as Marie's fingers slide across a ticklish section.

"Tomorrow, we go into Battle City and duel… both of us," says Marie moving to kiss Seto's stomach where she had just tickled him.

Seto rolls onto his back and pulls Marie up tight against his side. He smiles when she rests her head on his shoulder. "Sleep well, Marie… I'll protect you."

Marie sets her hand on Seto's chest over his heart. She closes her eyes. "Good night, Seto…"

Seto kisses Marie's forehead and rests his hand over hers on his chest. "Have good dreams now, Marie…"

Seto rolls onto his back and pulls Marie on top of him. He holds her tightly as he gives her a long kiss. He looks at her longingly, with a hunger hidden deep within his blue eyes.

"I am yours, Seto," whispers Marie relaxing in his arms, "If you want me, I am yours for the taking."

"You are not a possession, Marie. I don't want you to be mine. I'll settle for having your heart," says Seto.

"You have it… You have my heart. You can own that and borrow my body," says Marie smiling, "whenever you have need of it."

Seto swallows hard. "Thank you, but I don't need to borrow it tonight. Now don't get me wrong! I would love to borrow it sometime! I do want it, but I need to make sure that I wouldn't be hurting you if I ever did accept that gift. Besides, I think you need sleep more than anything else right now. My needs and desires can certainly wait for you."

"Yes… Just so long as you know… That is enough for me," says Marie.

Seto kisses Marie again and pries at her lips with his tongue until she opens her mouth for him.

You've always meant the world to me
And that's one thing that'll never change…

Marie straddles Seto and sits up over top of him. She takes his hand and places it over her left breast so that he can feel her heart beating rapidly through her flesh.

Seto blushes as he touches the soft mound of Marie's breast. He slides his fingers around its surface and manipulates it in his hand.

Marie closes her eyes and leans forward towards Seto's hand.

Seto closes his eyes and grabs Marie. He pulls her down beside him and rolls over on top of her. His weight presses her body down so that she can't move as he runs his hands up and down her sides. He opens his eyes and looks at her face. "I love you, Marie…"

Marie opens her eyes wide and stares into Seto's blue eyes. "You love me? Really?"

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it."

"I love you too, Seto! Ever since you first beat me in a duel!"

Seto kisses Marie's cheek and slides to the side to lie beside her. He holds her close to him. "I love you. Now go to sleep. We need to rest up for tomorrow."

"You're right," says Marie snuggling up against Seto.

Seto holds Marie gently as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before falling slowly asleep. "You're beautiful, Marie…"

Marie wakes up in Seto's arms and sits bolt upright. She places both her hands over her chest and pants heavily from her dream. She looks at Seto sleeping beside her and she smiles. Her cheeks redden as the events from her dream unfold before her eyes. She kisses Seto's forehead.

Seto moves his arm and opens his eyes fearfully. "Marie!"

"I'm right here, Seto," says Marie taking a deep breath.

Seto sits up and wraps his arms around Marie. "Did you have another dream? A nightmare?"

"A dream… yes. I don't know if we should do this…"

"Do what?"

"Sleep in the same bed. It was okay when Mokuba was with us too. We couldn't do anything even if we wanted to because we'd wake him up, but without him here, there's nothing to stop us."

"You had an erotic dream, didn't you?" asks Seto, "It was about me I hope!" He chuckles.

"It's not funny, Seto! My heart still hasn't quit pounding!" exclaims Marie.

Seto pulls Marie close to him and wraps his arms tightly around her. He smiles and kisses her cheek lightly. He whispers, "Well, I think that's because you are the most beautiful girl in the world. I know that my heart hasn't quit pounding since you came back to me."

"Seto…?"

Seto interrupts Marie with a long kiss and pulls her back down to lie on the bed with him.

"Seto, I want to go," says Marie. "I should get up and take a shower now that you're awake. I didn't want you to wake up to find me gone."

"You know me too well…"

"I like to think so!"

"So then… what am I thinking?" asks Seto with a sly smile.

"Let's see… does it have anything to do with dueling?" replies Marie.

"No… just you."

Marie whispers into Seto's ear telling him exactly what it was that he had been thinking. She blushes. "Maybe later. I'm not ready for anyone to see me undressed yet. You can take a bath with me later, if that's okay with you."

"Another day then. That will be fine with me. My private bathroom has a large bathtub," says Seto blushing, "You're welcome to use it."

Marie nods and hugs Seto tightly. She kisses his lips before climbing from the bed. She enters the bathroom and starts to prepare her bathwater.

Seto climbs from the bed and stretches his muscles. He hears a quiet knocking on his door. "Enter."

Mokuba walks into the bedroom in his pajamas. "Seto… Marie's gone. She isn't in her room!"

Seto smiles. "She had a nightmare last night, so she came in here. She's in taking a bath now."

"Oh… good! I thought she might have left and went back to Yugi's place," says Mokuba with a sigh of relief.

"Would you go to her room and get her a change of clothes?" asks Seto.

"Oh, yeah, sure, big brother!" exclaims Mokuba smiling. He runs from Seto's room.

Seto heads to his closet. He searches through the closet for several minutes and finally pulls out the outfit he wants to wear to Battle City that day. He hears the water turn off in the bathroom.

Mokuba returns after a moment with a handful of clothes for Marie. "I'll toss it into the bathroom for Marie."

Seto nods.

Mokuba walks to the bathroom door and knocks loudly. "Marie! It's Mokuba! I brought you some clothes to change into after your bath!"

"Come on in, Mokuba!" calls Marie from inside.

Mokuba opens the door and closes his eyes as he walks into the bathroom.

Seto looks into the room and sees Marie relaxing in the spacious bathtub with her arms behind her head and her eyes closed.

Marie's entire body is hidden from view by the foamy white bubbles of the bathwater. She opens her eyes and looks at Mokuba. "You can open your eyes, Mokuba. I don't want you tripping on anything and hurting yourself."

Mokuba opens his eyes. He sets the pile of clothing on the counter by the sink. "I hope this outfit is okay. I wasn't sure what to bring you."

"It will be fine. Thank you, Mokuba!" exclaims Marie smiling.

Mokuba nods and walks out of the bathroom, closing the door tightly behind him.

"I'm going to get dressed now, Mokuba. You should too. We'll meet downstairs for breakfast," says Seto.

"Right!" exclaims Mokuba smiling. He hurries out of the room to go get dressed.

Seto changes into his black pants and listens to the sounds of the woman he loves bathing in the room next door.

Marie walks out of the bathroom brushing her wet hair. She sees Seto half dressed. "Good morning, Seto."

"Good morning, Marie." Seto turns towards Marie and smiles as he sees her in her purple pants, purple jacket, and white T-shirt. He quickly pulls his black mock-turtleneck over his head and smoothes it over his chest. "So… you already got two locator cards?"

"Well, yeah. That duelist I faced was good, but nowhere near on your level! He was jumping up and down at the offer of winning a complete Exodia set," says Marie smiling.

"First thing after breakfast, I'm taking you to see the doctor," says Seto, "I don't know what can be done, but he'll try to help you." He pulls on his knee-length, white, sleeveless jacket and looks at Marie.

"I want him to make it so that I could make love to you… when we were both ready," says Marie smiling. She walks up to Seto and looks into his dark blue eyes.

Seto pulls Marie into his arms so that her chest presses up tight against his own, and he starts to rub her back gently.

Marie sighs delightedly and wraps her arms around Seto's back.

Seto whispers into Marie's ear, "What would you like me to do, Marie?"

"Do as your heart tells you," whispers Marie, "I will gladly let you do anything to me that you want to do."

Seto starts kissing her neck as he massages her body with more strength. He kisses her lips once before he says, "I love you."

"You love me? Really? Of course… you wouldn't have said it if it wasn't true, but you never want Yugi to know, right?" asks Marie, "Done! I love you too!" She kisses him. "I love you, Seto!"

"Marie!" exclaims Seto running his hands through her hair as she continues to kiss him.

Marie clings tight to Seto and pulls out of their long kiss with a smile.

"We should go down for breakfast," says Seto smiling slyly. He starts kissing Marie and pulls her over to the bed. He lowers her back down to the bed and lies half beside and half on top of her as he kisses her.

"What about breakfast? Mokuba's probably waiting!" exclaims Marie.

Seto sighs after he places one last kiss on Marie's lips. "All right! All done! You are very beautiful, Marie…"

Marie slides out from beneath Seto and stands up. "Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it, Marie." Seto rolls over onto his back and looks up at Marie with a smile.

"Thank you…" Marie blushes. She takes Seto's hand and pulls him to his feet.

"Marie, wait!" exclaims Seto pulling his arm away from Marie.

Marie looks at him. "What is it, Seto?"

Seto walks over to his dresser. He pulls open a drawer and lifts a black box from inside. He turns and tosses the box to Marie. "It's not a request."

No matter what!
We'll be friends forever…

Marie opens the box. She looks in at the delicate gold ring with the marquis diamond. She smiles at Seto. "Is this an engagement ring?"

"Yes. I want you as my fiancée, Marie. I want you to marry me. Mokuba wants you to be his sister. I want you to be his sister as well," says Seto smiling.

"I'll marry you. Of course I will!" exclaims Marie walking up to Seto. She slides her hands down along his sides as she leans in to kiss him.

Seto grabs Marie's arms and pulls them up to his chest. He takes the ring from the box and slides it onto the ring finger of her left hand. "Perfect! Now your outfit is almost complete. You just need the duel disk now for it to be perfectly complete and beautiful. You are beautiful, Marie! I love you! Don't ever change! Stay just the way you are! Well, almost just the way you are! I want to be able to please my fiancée."

"Yes, Seto! I promise! I love you too!" exclaims Marie kissing Seto, "I love you, Seto!"

"Now let's go join Mokuba for breakfast! I'm starving!" exclaims Seto. He grabs Marie's hand and pulls her out of his bedroom.