Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.

Chapter Eleven

Dria

I wouldn't lie that I was a little afraid of what Pegasus was going to say to me. I slowly walked down the hallway leading into the dining room. Had Pegasus not gone off the deep end, I wouldn't have been worried. In the past, we would have at least one fancy dinner together per week where we would eat in this room when we visited the island.

But it had been some time since we had done that, and judging by his tone of voice when he had requested my presence, this wasn't going to be one of those times. I knocked on the door when I finally reached the room and waited for his permission to enter.

"Please come in, Alexandria."

Calling me by my full name 3 times couldn't possibly be good. He was sitting at the end of the table, a half-filled wine glass resting in his hand. I sat at the opposite end of the table and bowed my head in respect. He sighed and rose from his seat, walking towards my end of the dining table. I chose to say nothing, and instead, I waited for him to address me. I felt his hand softly touch my cheek and then roughly pull my face up towards his.

"What do you think you are doing, Alexandria?"

I refused to even look at him. He tried to move my face so my eyes would meet his, forcing me to gaze at him, "How did you delay my Toon Monster's attack?"

I stared back in defiance and still said nothing. He huffed in annoyance and released me, stalking back to the opposite side of the room. I rubbed the spot he had grabbed, slightly surprised he would use that much force against me.

"You will not interfere with my plans, Alexandria."

My Item started to glow as my anger rose, "You have no say in what I do, Pegasus. I will do as I please, and I won't let you hurt the people I care about. That includes stopping you from hurting yourself."

He narrowed his eyes at me, before looking towards my necklace in confusion. I froze; he could see my Pendant glowing. He stepped towards me and raised his hand with the intent to take my dearest possession from me. I snarled in defense and stepped back, "Don't come any closer."

He ignored me and kept coming closer. He was barely 2 feet from me, his hand dangerously close to my Pendant, when I narrowed my gaze and sent him flying backwards into the opposite wall. He didn't hit it hard enough to injure anything, but hard enough to shake him up.

"What are you?"

The Eye of Horus appeared on my forehead as my anger continued to rise. My vision clouded over as the remaining amount of my prophetic power overtook me.

Pegasus

I watched in amazement and fright as my daughter began to glow. The same eye that had appeared on Yugi Mutou's forehead once appeared on her forehead as well. It was the Eye of Horus, the Ancient Egyptian symbol of royal power, the image believed to protect the royal family from any evil threat. Her normally sparkling emerald green eyes had also changed to a gleaming ruby red.

"Watch yourself, Pegasus. What comes easily is easily lost. Continue with your futile plan, but do not interfere with mine, or you will regret it, mortal."

Mortal? What on earth was going on? Was this truly my daughter? The glow faded and the eye vanished. Her eyes didn't fade back to green, but she glided out the door before I could say anything. I rubbed the back of my head, discovering my unexpected meeting with the wall had caused a small bump to form. But there was a bigger issue at hand.

What had just happened to Dria?

Yugi

My eyes were shifting to the door nearly every 10 seconds. Dria was supposed to join us for dinner. If Pegasus even looked towards her wrong, he would pay dearly. I shook my head as this thought entered my head. Since when had I become violent? I quietly scoffed; it was either after Dria had entered my life or after I solved the Millennium Puzzle.

Pegasus had prepared us a delicious meal. The soup, excluding the eyeball, was surprisingly creamy and full of flavor. The fish was delicious and the fruit juice, though very pleasant, must have been expensive. His little eyeball was a little irritating, mostly because I was hoping to enjoy the food without any surprises. By the time my friends had finished eating, not only had Dria not come at all, but it was also too late to go looking for her.

"Hey there Joey, we'd better get to bed. We'll need our rest if we're all going to be in top shape for the tournament tomorrow."

Joey sighed, "Yug, what's the point? I don't have that card."

I smiled as I pulled out Glory of the King's Hand and placed it into his hands, "Actually this Glory of King's Hand is yours Joey. Just think of it as an early birthday present."

I wasn't going to leave Joey behind, not after everything he had gone through to get this far and the reason why he was fighting so hard in this tournament. Plus, it doubled our chances of winning the whole thing if I gave him this card.

We all left for our rooms together. As the gang split up into our previously arranged rooms, I wished everyone a good night's sleep and promised to make sure Joey got out of bed in the morning. I closed the door to my room and turned to see Dria sitting on the edge of the bed, legs crossed with one hand supporting her head, looking out the window. Had she been here waiting for me the whole time?

"Dria?"

She acted as if she hadn't even heard me. I walked up to her and softly touched her shoulder. "Dria, is everything alright?"

Her head snapped over to meet my gaze. I gasped, taking a step back in surprise. Her eyes were bright red, almost like fire. That wasn't her normal eye color, the fiery emerald that had been ingrained in my mind. I hesitated to reach out to her again because I was unfamiliar with this part of her, a side that implanted awe and fear with a single glance.

"You must stop Pegasus at all costs. Trust in yourself and in the Spirit of the Puzzle. You must work together if you want to have any hope of success."

What was that supposed to mean? She knew that there was some kind of spirit living inside my Puzzle. She had been there when I nearly lost control and hurt Kaiba. She would have never forgiven me for that. But, how could I believe her? What if he tried to take complete control and hurt even her in the process? I would never forgive myself if I allowed that to happen. I was afraid of the Spirit because he looked at our opponents with the same fierce gaze Dria now had, one which exuded authority and demanded compliance.

She swayed slightly before falling back onto the bed, as if she had been in some kind of trance. I pulled the blanket over her completely and sat next to her. I'd only known her for a little more than a week, but I couldn't ignore the feeling that I'd known her for much longer, like a close friend who had been gone for many years. Her attitude, her beauty, everything about her was far too familiar. Yet somehow, I had forgotten, or perhaps it was someone else who had forgotten. I was too tired to let it bother me for long. I pulled out another blanket from the closet and went to sleep on the couch.

"Yugi Mutou, if you do not sleep in this bed, heaven help me." I whirled around back to the bed. Dria was sitting up, her arms crossed over her chest, slightly glaring with her now bright emerald eyes.

I shrugged, "I don't mind sleeping on the couch if you want to sleep in here."

She waved my comment off with one graceful sweep of her hand, "Nonsense. You have a tournament to worry about in the morning." She turned back towards the window, a thoughtful expression covering her face.

"This is going to sound insane."

I raised my eyebrow at her comment. Because of everything that had happened recently, there were probably only a few things that would actually sound insane.

"I need you to watch my body."

My eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?"

She smiled and turned back to face me. "I need you to watch my body. There's no telling how many people may try to kidnap my motionless form while I'm gone, even within the castle itself."

I narrowed my gaze, feeling confusion and anger rising in me, "Where exactly do you plan on going without your body?"

She smirked, "I'm going to the Shadow Realm to find Seto, Grandpa, and Mokuba."

Dria

He didn't say anything for a while, nor did he or Pharaoh even move for a few moments. "You want to run that by me again? I thought you just said you were going to the Shadow Realm. But you couldn't have said that."

I smiled widely, "That is exactly what I said, dear Yugi. I plan to find Seto, Grandpa, and Mokuba and keep them out of harm's way until you defeat my father in the final duel and he returns them to this world."

He scoffed and crossed his arms, "How do you even know I'll make it that far? I could lose the first match in the morning. Then what? Am I going to lose you too?"

I could see tears gathering in his eyes from the fear my idea had instilled. I rose from the bed and pulled him into a hug. "You will not lose me, I guarantee that," I whispered to him, trying to soothe his fears.

He didn't respond for a moment. I thought he was ignoring me until I realized that there was a change in his constitution. My heart rejoiced at the familiar form. My Pharaoh had returned once more, though likely against poor Yugi's will again. I released him from my grasp and stared into his eyes.

"You cannot promise that. You don't know what could happen, so how do you have such confidence in me?"

I smiled and cradled his face in my hands. "I believe in your skills," I moved one of my hands down, until it was resting over his heart, "I believe in your heart, and most of all, I believe in you. That is how I have such confidence."

"But, how can I allow you to follow through with this plan? It's dangerous."

I smiled and lowered my other hand from his face. "It's not about who allows me to. It's about who is brazen enough to stop me."

He froze for a moment after I said that. He averted his gaze, a calculating look in his eyes. He then turned away from me, gazing out the window. Had I said something wrong?

"I've heard that from somewhere. Have you said it to me before?"

I shrugged, hiding my inner glee at the fact that he remembered that line. "I probably did since I tend to say it a lot. I have a tendency to make people worry about me, and some are silly enough to think I can be stopped simply because they say so."

He cocked his head and moved closer to me. He didn't say anything, but he placed his hand against my cheek, and a small, loving smile graced his face. He continued to lean forward until his forehead was resting against mine. I closed my eyes as his soothing scent washed over me. We sat like this for a few moments before he spoke again.

"I remember when my hikari met you. I was unbelievably jealous when you took him into your arms, and I cannot fathom why. When did I meet you? You are far too kind and far too beautiful to forget. I know I've met you before."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. I reopened my eyes, staring directly into his sunset orbs. I had a good response to his question, but as I gazed into those eyes, every thought left my head. I couldn't stop my eyes from flicking down to his lips. He let out a deep chuckle when I quickly averted my gaze, blushing madly. He gently placed a finger underneath my chin and lifted my gaze back to his. His gentle smile melted me from the inside out, just as it had so long ago.

"Dria! Where did you put my Millennium Rod this time? You are completely aware that I need it!"

I was happily resting on the bench in the garden. I lazily opened one eye to stare at Seto, who was standing over me, wearing only a pair of loose black pants. I made a show of ogling him before closing my eye again. What could I say? He was incredibly attractive, and I would not pass up the opportunity.

"You seem to lose that thing every day, Seto, plus it comes and goes as it pleases. Why am I always accused of taking it? Remember the time you left it beneath your bed because you fell asleep working and it somehow made its way there even though there was no one else in your room? I have no idea where it has run off to this time, but I wish you luck in locating it."

He huffed in annoyance as I smiled. I heard him start to walk away, and then everything went quiet, almost too quiet. Not even the birds that were in the garden began to sing again. I started to open my eyes, only to find myself airborne. I was so surprised I didn't even shout, not even when I collided into another body. I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist as the other figure and I crashed to the ground. I groaned in pain as my body crashed to the ground, mostly since the other figure's knee had somehow found its way to my stomach. I rolled off the other body, clutching at my stomach and attempting to regain my breath.

"Seto! What did you do?"

I heard the Pharaoh scolding Seto for throwing me across the garden. I released my stomach and forced my eyes open. I looked towards the Pharaoh and Seto, who were both looking at me worriedly.

" Don't fret, Pharaoh. Seto, I last saw your Rod in the throne room last night, after the party." His eyes widened as the memory came back to him. He stuttered in shock as he tried to find a way to apologize.

I just smiled. "Watch yourself Seto. I know how to return such favors."

He trembled a little in response to my veiled threat before running back inside to collect his wayward Item. The Pharaoh sighed, briefly rubbing his temple to allay his irritation, and followed him inside. I began to get up when a hand shot out and pulled me back down by my right arm. I raised my other, already clenched into a fist and ready to strike, when I realized the figure that I had collided with was the Prince.

"Are you well, Prince?"

A deep chuckle escaped from his mouth as he replied, "How about I suddenly toss someone your weight on top of you with no prior warning? Then tell me how you feel."

My irritation rose and I scoffed, "How about you just toss yourself on top of me? That would be heavier."

He opened his eyes in shock. I clamped my hands over my mouth. How could I be so disrespectful? I opened my mouth to apologize, when he burst into laughter. I stayed silent, lowering my head and trying to apologize for my rude comment. Instead of punishing me like he probably should have, he just rolled over on top of me, pushing us both underneath the bushes.

He was hovering over me, resting all his weight on his forearms, which were by my head, but I couldn't stop my blush at feeling our legs intertwined and hips pressed together. I resisted every urge to moan in appreciation of the muscles I could feel pressed along my body. When I finally went to say something, he shook his head and gazed back out into the garden. Anzu was walking by. I quietly snarled at the servant girl as she passed us. She was obsessed with the Prince, constantly following him everywhere, even into his own private rooms after dark. She irritated me consistently, mostly since she always interrupted the Prince's and my conversations whenever she could. I noticed that she tensed up when she heard my snarl, and she looked around for the maker of the sound, but shook her head and continued on her way.

I heard another chuckle after she had left. My eyes shifted back over to the Prince, whose face was now covered with a gentle smile. I always swooned at that smile, and he knew it when he heard my sigh. He lowered his body further onto mine, now pressing nearly every portion of his body against mine with that smile still on his face.

"You should know there is no reason to be jealous of her. My attention has already been captured by another."

I tried to give him an excited smile while my heart crashed through the ground. His birthday had been yesterday and to celebrate, the Pharaoh had thrown him a huge party, inviting all the eligible bachelorettes from many neighboring countries and kingdoms. I had remained by the Pharaoh the entire time, since I was his highest advisor. I was forced to watch as the Prince smiled, laughed, and even danced with many candidates for his possible future Queen.

Aknamkanon had asked me long ago to avoid looking into the Prince's future, mostly for my own good. He knew I couldn't stop a vision if it came to me nor would he stop one if it came, but he understood that I could glance into moments of my choosing and he wanted to prevent any heartache for us both. I had no idea which of the women the Prince had chosen for his affections. If it were up to them, all the girls would marry him. Although we had grown up together, and had shared moments akin to romance, he must have found another woman more enticing.

"Congratulations my Prince. I would like to meet her soon, if you don't mind, to make sure she's good enough for you."

His smile vanished as brief confusion flashed through his eyes, as if I'd caught him off guard with my response. But, after staring at me for a few moments in silence, his smile returned full force. I closed my eyes and quietly sighed as I swooned again, needing a moment before I could look him in the eyes to continue our otherwise serious conversation. My gaze drifted to his lips naturally before I snapped it back up to his eyes, remembering that I was in no position to lay claim to him. He leaned closer to me, his lips only inches from mine.

"Silly Kadesh," my heart jumped at the name.

Many of the boys in the city had taken to calling me that, saying it was not possible for me to be a normal mortal because I was far too alluring and powerful. But he had never called me that before; it was usually Ramila or Urbi depending on what I was doing when he came upon me. He barely even called me Dria, which was how I introduced myself to him all those years ago. Only when I was upset in some fashion did he use my true name to persuade me to relax and heed his words of encouragement.

"Maybe this will help you see," He softly pressed his lips to mine, waiting for me to respond.

My mind came back to me, only to see that the same moment was happening. He pulled back a little when I didn't respond to his advances. I could see the hurt from my rejection in his eyes when they met mine. He went to turn his head away, only to have me pull it back to finish what he started. I jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist, completely overcome with my pent up lust for him. He let his hands run down my sides until they reached my hips, where he formed a strong cage to hold me to him tightly.

We had both forgotten about the bed behind us because as soon as he took one step to shift his weight, we ended up falling onto the bed with him above me. We pulled apart in shock, and then we started to laugh at how oblivious we had become. As our laughter slowed, I raised my hand to stroke his cheek. He leaned down to kiss me once more and I allowed him to for a few moments.

Then I gently pushed him off, "I don't want to take advantage of your affections. You mean too much to me. There are things about me that you must know and things about yourself that you must discover before I can explain about us."

He sighed but nodded at my idea, "Very well. What do you need to tell me?"

My Item started to glow again. That was my signal. It was time for me to go. I smiled and pulled his lips to mine once more, "Grandpa, Seto, Mokuba, and I will be waiting for your victory. Good luck."

I felt my eyelids drooping as I began my journey to the Shadows. He quickly touched his lips to mine once more, "Be safe."

Yugi

I opened my eyes to find Dria sleeping next to me, curled up against my chest.

"Dria?"

I gently shook her, trying to wake her up. And she wasn't responding to my calls. "Dria? Dria!"

I couldn't get her to wake up. Suddenly, I remembered our conversation from last night, and I buried my hands into my hair in anger. She had gone through with her insane plan and was now in the Shadow Realm. But, how did she get there? I didn't remember Pegasus coming into my room last night. Was it the spirit's fault? I growled at the thought. I couldn't remember what happened last night. I remembered Dria telling me about her crazy plan, and then it was all foggy. Maybe it was the Spirit of the Puzzle's fault, but she told me that he meant no harm and I could trust him.

I shook my head, trying to calm the storm of thoughts that bombarded my mind as I closed the window blinds and made sure the doors were locked. Remembering everything didn't really matter now. Dria probably would have gone through with her plan even if I had done everything I could do to stop her. What mattered now was getting her back, along with everyone else Pegasus had trapped. But, what did she mean by trusting the spirit? I was struggling to understand her advice because I had seen the harm he could cause in his attempts to win no matter what. I had to create a plan quickly because I was running out of time. My duel was about to begin, and I had to win.