Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or its characters. I only own Sapphira Takaru, Marina Takaru, Toran Takaru and Zahara.

Chapter 5

Meeting Seto Kaiba

Sapphira's P.O.V.

One Year Later...

"Now," The announcer for the tournament began as I finished off my opponent. "Once again the winner is Sapphira Takaru. Our very own Dragon Princess has claimed this tournament as her conquest once again. Will there ever be anyone who can surpass her skill? Well, we'll just have to wait and see for that day to come."

I walked slowly to claim my trophy before I left and headed home. I knew that I had to be back pretty soon and that my parents would get worried otherwise.

I took a hand through my short blonde hair with golden highlights that reached my shoulders as my bright blue eyes were filled with worry of what could happen on my way home. I wore a light purple tube with a sky blue jacket with matching fingerless gloves. I had a light green skirt that reached slightly past my knees with a brown belt above the skirt with a place to hold my deck for when I duel and light brown laced boots.

This was just the usual for me. Recently in this past year I've become the Egyptain Duel Monsters National Champion, and I'm pretty proud of my accomplishment. However, I've developed trust issues because of the constant bullying that I've suffered through all of these years. It's very hard to let others get close to me because I fear that they will become just like my tormenters. It's a fear that I can't seem to let myself go of because it was built around for me to protect myself from getting hurt and I doubt that I'll be able to let go of it easily without some difficulty.

Pretty soon I got home and had dinner with my parents before I went to bed. I sat in bed thinking about my wish to find a friend who understood me and could break down the walls that I put up to protect myself and always myself to show who I really am. Little did I know that I would soon get my wish when I met someone who would change my world.

Two Months Later...

I was running to a Duel Monsters competition so that I could get there early to prepare my deck for any upcoming challengers that I may see at the tournament. I had my deck ready for the tournament, but you never know who may show up and what they may have in store for you. So I like to prepare so that I can be ready for when they show up.

However, that thought was short lived when I ran into a group of three black-haired Egyptians that I knew were some of my daily tormenters. They tripped me and tried to take my deck. However, someone punched them and sent them packing before they could do much.

Once the strangers handed me my deck, I looked up in shock at who I saw before I took off towards the competition. I was still shocked at who I saw there helping me get my deck back from the bullies.

It was a boy my age with brown hair and cold blue eyes. I knew very well who that boy was. How could I not? That boy was Seto Kaiba, the Ceo of Kaiba Corporation and one of the top duelists in Duel Monsters.

Why would he even care what happens to me? He has his own multi million dollar company to worry about. He shouldn't care about what happens to me.

It wasn't too much longer that I arrived at the tournament. From the stands I was able to see Seto Kaiba watching me as I dueled. Of course, the end result of the tournament was once again that I was the victor. Not that I'm too surprised at that result.

Man, why can't these people give me more of a challenge. It's getting boring winning everytime these tournaments come up. I want someone who can push me to my limits and bring out my true power. A duelist who understands the game and how it's meant to be played.

I was broken out of my thoughts by the announcer for the tournament calling out my win once again. He's really starting to sound like a broken record.

"Once again," The announcer began. "Our winner for the National Egyptian Duel Monsters Tournament is once again Sapphira Takaru. The Dragon Princess has once again made yet another conquest. Will we ever find someone who can surpass her skill? Well, we'll just have to wait and see."

I once again got my trophy and started to head out of the building like I always did. However, this time was different than the other times.

"Hey," A cold male voice called, getting my attention and making me turn back around to see that it was Seto Kaiba who was addressing me.

"That was a good duel," Seto began saying in a tone that I could tell that he was impressed. "Though, I get the feeling that none of them feel like a challenge for you."

I nodded, still shocked at the fact that he was speaking to me. He didn't seem to notice though.

"So," Seto began. " Why did you just come here without saying a word after I helped you get back your deck?"

He noticed that I started to look uncomfortable at that. However, he was patient and gave me time to gather my thoughts. I don't why, but something is telling me that I can trust him. It's like there's a voice in my head telling me to trust him and to follow my heart that tells me that I can trust him as well.

"What would you do if you thought that they would hurt you like others have before?" I questioned him and he nooded in understanding at my words. "All my life, I've been hurt just for being different from those around me. The only people that I could trust were my parents, my cousins and their stepbrother. I would go to my cousins for advice. I couldn't burden my parents with it. They have enough to worry about and I didn't want them to worry about me more than they already do about the bullying. I guess that over time it caused me to become antisocial with others, out of fear that they would hurt me like the ones who have hurt me all my life just for being different from them."

Seto nodded and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know how you feel," Seto began shocking me. "My brother Mokuba and I grew up in an orphange before we were adopted by our stepfather, who wasn't the nicest person. Mokuba and I used to be bullied, but we fought back to protect ourselves. It's one of the reasons that I don't get close to people."

I nodded in understanding, feeling so useless. I could never fight back because I didn't know how, but I wished that I did. Seto seemed to catch on to what I was thinking.

"So," Seto began. "Would you like to learn how to fight back? To give the bullies a chance to see what you're truly capable of. To be able to defend yourself from others who would otherwise want to hurt you."

I looked at him shocked and nodded with gratitude. I could tell that he knew how grateful he was and introduced me to Mokuba before we went on our way.

That was a day that I would never forget. It slowly helped me to let down some of the walls that I built around myself. It may have let some of the walls up, but it was a start and helped me form my long time friendship with Seto. I will always be grateful to what he has done for me that day, and it was a debt that I hope to someday repay, even if he tells me that I don't have to. We're friends, and friends would help each other out. No matter what anyone says.

That's the way that I live and stand by, and there's no way that I would change how I live and fight. It's the way I see the world and it will always be how I see it. Little did I know that soon I would meet someone that would further to help me bring down those walls and who I would be willing to risk my life to help, no matter the circumstances.

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