This is a short one, because I had less time than I anticipated to write it. Well, actually, if that were the only reason, I would have just delayed posting it. But another reason is because this section of the story didn't seem to need much.

A note: Pegasus's argument with Seto's mom in the previous chapter wasn't necessarily supposed to imply that the Millennium Eye can offer prolonged exposure to the "other side." To be honest with you, I'm not sure if that was her actual spirit, or a vivid hallucination. Personally, I lean toward the latter. But . . . who knows?

Millennium Magic seems to have the expressed purpose of screwing everything up. Blood magic usually does.

1.

"Is this really something we should be concerned about? Master Crawford has always been . . . eccentric. He's an artist. It's in his nature."

Croquet doesn't gather the house staff together for private meetings. It isn't a matter of how often or how rarely he does it; he's never done it before. He works one-on-one with the individuals responsible for keeping the master's estate running properly, and has never had a reason to call in the proverbial cavalry all at once.

He isn't sure why he decided to make exception to that rule, and he knows in some part of his mind that he shouldn't have done it without having a very specific plan of action, but he couldn't help it. It was one of those acts that was already half-done before he realized he was doing it, and by then inertia was in full swing.

So, here he stands, in front of twenty-four people, with no idea what he's talking about. Only Fiona seems to have any idea that this is a problem; so far, she's managed to cover for his knee-jerk paranoia by acting as his personal sounding board.

Croquet is grateful to her, but he is also somewhat frightened of her; he can't help but read a subtle but ironclad warning in her demeanor: I'll give you a hand, but you'd better use it properly.

"This is more than a passing fancy," Croquet says, "and that's why I've called everyone here. I want you all to keep close eye on his behavior from now on." He decides to gamble; not everyone here understands that Pegasus's golden eye is anything more than a gaudy fashion statement. Better not to mention its corruption. "I worry that Master Crawford is leaping into this entirely too quickly." Here he goes. "Perhaps it's a reaction to . . . well, Lady Cyndia."

"Acting out his grief," Fiona guesses, "without any conscious understanding of it."

"Yes."

"Your concern . . . ?"

"My concern is that his façade will crack, and that it won't be just him who suffers for it. Whomever he decides to adopt may well get caught in the crossfire."

"The Yagami boy."

"Boys."

Fiona raises an eyebrow. "Two? He intends to take both of them?"

". . . To use his words," Croquet says hesitantly, "'I would no more separate those boys than tear down Stonehenge. Some things are simply meant to stay the way they are.'"

2.

"He's been quiet entirely too long," is the first thing Dan says the next time he sees Kristine. "What's he been doing?"

"Seems mentioning his brother was enough to get him thinking," is Kristine's answer. "He's been in the play room, looking at those cards Mister Crawford left for us. I think he thinks he's making a deck. I'm pretty sure his only criterion is that the art is sufficiently colorful, but chances are he'll want to challenge Niisama to a game when he gets home."

Dan chuckles. "Should've known. We should've invoked the Niisama sooner." He draws in a deep breath, lets it out slowly, and shakes his head. "I hope you're right. I hope Crawford decides to go through with this. He's obviously got his sights set on them, and considering just how much his advice is changing Seto's behavior . . ."

"Seto trusts him," Kristine says, "as much as he can trust anyone anymore. He'd better go through with this, or I might just wring his neck personally. He might be rich, but he's kind of lanky. I'm pretty sure I could take him."

It's supposed to be a joke, but Dan doesn't treat it like one.

"Speaking of rich . . ." Dan plucks a notepad out of his back pocket and glances down at it. More than once, like he isn't sure it's in his hand yet. "Got a phone call. Seems Pegasus Jareth Crawford, President of Industrial Illusions, has decided to follow through on that promise of a donation."

"Oh?" Kristine looks excited for roughly three seconds, then her face turns grim. "What's wrong? You look like you got an invitation to attend a puppy's funeral. Hardly the right attitude when someone decides to be generous, don't you think?"

Dan hands the notepad to her. "I stopped believing in Santa Claus entirely too long ago for this."

Kristine takes the proffered pad, looks at it, then looks at it again.

". . . Did you . . . double-check with him on just how many zeroes to tack onto the end of this?"

"Triple-checked. Why do you think I wrote it down? He says we'll have the check tomorrow." Dan pauses. "He also said . . . there was one condition."

"Which . . . is . . . ?"

"He says we have to spend at least five percent specifically for Seto's birthday."

3.

"What would you do here?"

Seto studies the table like his decision will affect the lives of thousands. He glances up at Sugoroku, over at Yugi, then back at the table. This is no different than any other duel, he tells himself. The fact that an old man is testing him has nothing to do with the proper answer to this question.

Seto points. "This. I'll lose most of my hand, but so will you." He holds up a card from his hand. "Then I can just take my monster back from the graveyard."

Sugoroku hums deep in his throat, rubbing his chin. "Mmmm . . . yes. Yes, I can see where you'd come up with that. You're quick to abandon a strategy if your opponent throws the proverbial wrench into it, aren't you?"

"If I dwell on my strategy getting ruined or try to keep it alive," Seto replies promptly, "it only gives my opponent more time to put up defenses. Better to move on before they realize I've made a decision at all."

Sugoroku is nodding halfway through. He looks at his grandson. "You've certainly found a quick study, Yugi. I'm not sure if my usual methods are going to work on him." He grins like the devil, and Seto suddenly feels a ripple of superstitious chill run down his back.

"You're going to use that deck?" Yugi asks, fighting a giggling fit.

"I think I haven't any choice." Sugoroku stands up. "Are you prepared to gaze deep into the abyss, Seto Yagami?"

Seto leans back in his chair, crosses his arms, and raises an expectant eyebrow.

I don't think there's any abyss you can conjure up that I haven't seen already, Seto thinks grimly; he doesn't realize he's said this out loud until he notices the surprised, concerned look on Sugoroku's face.

.

With this update, the story has reached the 20,000-word mark. Not to imply that this is particularly important, but it still feels worth mentioning. This story has gained quite a bit of forward momentum, and I'm so pleased to see everyone's response to it. Glad you're enjoying this take on everything. It's been extremely illuminating so far.

I'm learning a lot, which I kind of anticipated, but what I'm learning, specifically, has surprised me.

Which, I figure, means I must be doing something right.

By the way: Pegasus's name in canon is just Pegasus J. Crawford. For all I know, he just tacked on a middle initial to make himself sound more distinguished. I opted to give him a middle name of my own choosing a while ago. Now, I'm not necessarily saying that the reference was intentional, but Labyrinth was one of my favorite movies as a kid.

So . . . you know. Take from that what you will.