Hi everyone! Thank you for the views! Please make sure to give me a review to let me know what you think! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. In story news, I promise romance will blossom very soon for the amazing Seto Kaiba :) Enjoy.

"I'm sorry. You must think I'm mental. I d-don't even know why I told you any of this. Just, please don't tell anyone." she pleaded as Seto took a seat directly across from her.

"Are you...are you still hurting yourself" he asked staring directly into her eyes. Serena knew she couldn't lie. Her eyes always gave it away.

"Sometimes... This morning." she responded truthfully avoiding his eyes. Seto knew he had to tell someone in order to help her, but he wasn't going to chase her away.

" I won't tell." Serena look up in relief. "On one condition. I want you to come to my house once a week. You can't do this alone, so let me help you." he said extending his hand. Serena weighed her options. 'It's either take the offer or he tells daddy. There was only one way and there was no way her father would ever find out about this. If even a whisper of it came out, he would surely pack her off again to a "sanctuary that helps with these sorts of problems." Begrudgingly, she took his hand and the offer.

Seto was relieved. Part of him believed that she would refuse his terms and run out on him. The girl had fire and he was ready to help her regain her ferocity. Shortly after her acceptance, her car came to pick her up and Kaiba began his work.

After researching for hours, Kaiba found that Dr. Johnson was the top psychiatrist in the region and the overall best choice for Serena. Seto sighed in relief. He had sacrificed an entire day of work, but something inside him told him that it was the right decision. He didn't know why or how, but he felt strangely protective of this girl. He couldn't allow her to be hurt or disappear. Maybe it was her rough childhood or the pressure to please her father that Kaiba empathized with. He didn't know why or how, but he was determined to help her by any means necessary.

When Serena finally returned home, she was exhausted. In a matter of hours, her world had been flipped upside down and she felt as if she had no control over the situation. She rummaged through her desk, searching for the one thing that could bring her peace when she heard a voice from the darkened corner of her room.

"Serena, darling child, welcome home" said a strangely familiar voice. It couldn't be. She had always imagined his voice. She used to fall asleep dreaming that her father would speak to her again, but she the reality was so much better.

"Daddy?" she cried flinging herself on the figure. It had been twelve years since she had seen him as she buried her face in his rich crimson suit.

"My, my it really has been too long my child" Pegasus smiled sadly "You really are grown up." Serena couldn't speak as she was too choked up to say a word. Pegasus stroked his daughter's long locks. She looked just like her mother. They stayed in this embrace for hours until Pegasus cleared his throat.

"My dear. While I'm overjoyed to have you back in the house, your presence requires attention." Serena was momentarily confused until she remembered how she had actually convinced her father to bring her home.

Memory POV

Shortly after her twelfth birthday, Serena had given up. Her efforts had failed and she knew that nothing she could do with bring her father back to her. With this, she relinquished her title, gave away her dueling deck and never wrote another program. She chose to spiral. She didn't want the titles or perfection, she was done.

As her grades dropped and her teachers alerted Industrial Illusions in search of her father, Serena began to close herself off from the world. It first started with a C on a test. Then, the C's became D's and F's. Teachers hardly saw Serena in class and when she did manage to show up for class, she wasn't truly there. Months of poor academics became years as Serena continued to spiral. While the teachers and headmaster did not hold her back due to her past accomplishments and skills, they recommended that Pegasus bring his daughter home as she was no longer a "suitable fit" for their school.

End of Memory

"I'm sorry. I just needed to get out of there. I needed to come home." she explained. Pegasus nodded in understanding. The child had grown up without her parents and he was guilty for her unhappiness. But, she looked so much like her mother that he couldn't bear to have her with him when Cecelia was no longer there.

"Well, I have a surprise for you" placing a light necklace around his daughter's neck. Serena touched it lightly. It had the millenium eye symbol as a pendant. She smiled for the first time that day.

"Thank you. I love it" and she truly did as it was it was a constant reminder of her father.

When Serena woke up the next day, she couldn't remember how she had ended up there. She rubbed her shoulders when she noticed her necklace. It felt heavier than it did yesterday. Serena rubbed her temples-what was going on?

Yugi was determined to meet Serena. And was waiting for the right time. When she walked in, it was as if she was a different person and everybody seemed to notice. She was lighter, at least she seemed to be happier. 'Yugi her necklace.' Yugi glanced at her neck and surely there was glint of gold that flickered by as she walked past him.

'What is it Yami? What did you see?' Yugi questioned.

'Her necklace had the symbol of a millennia item'

'Did you sense a presence?' Yugi asked alarmed.

'No, an ancient spirit isn't there. But something powerful is beginning to grow within her. I feel a deep magic in the air.' Yami replied.

She did seem different. But if the item had brought her light and knowledge as Yami had done for Yugi, he was glad that she had someone to lean onto.

Serena slid into her seat as the last bell rang. She felt fresh and controlled for what felt like the first time in her life. She smiled at the boy next to her. "Hi Kaiba" she said grinning from ear to ear.

Seto was taken aback. She seemed like an entirely different person. Lighter. But something was off about her. "Hello" he replied pleasantly.

Serena had a new strength within her after reuniting with her father. Sure everything wasn't perfect or remotely close to it, but she knew she could work through it.

At lunch, Seto requested her presence at his house after school. She sighed remembering the day's previous events and though she was reluctant, she agreed. After all, he'd see that she was perfectly fine. A few minor bumps had set her back but she was completely fine now.

Serena trailed after Seto when they entered his manor. The place was huge! Almost as large as her father's home. Not wanting to get lost, she quickened her steps to catch up to Kaiba.

Finally, they stopped in front of a large double footed room. He opened it slowly.

"Serena, I want you to meet Dr. Johnson..." He had set her up with a shrink! Serena quickly grabbed Seto's arm and led him down the staircase. Seto was surprised by her strength. Who knew that such a thin person had that much power.

"How dare you!" She fumed " I am not crazy and I certainly don't need someone analyzing everything I do! I only did it a few times okay! I'm not going to do it anymore!" She was screaming now " I'm not some poor charity case and I'm not a lost lamb whose given up on life. I was a little sad. I mean who isn't? Everybody experiences hardship and disappointment, it doesn't mean I need to see someone!"

Seto waited until she calmed. Obviously his plan wouldn't work if she wasn't willing to even look at the man. She paced angrily around the foyer wanting to leave but obligated to stay.

"I don't think you're crazy. I just think you need someone to talk to" he explained " if you don't want to talk to a professional, I understand." Serena looked up in astonishment. She had expected threats or at least a show of resistance. "Just, talk to me. Let me in, so I can help you."