"No. You are not going."

"You sound so sure, my king." Seth said, rising to his feet. "That in itself is proof that you do not remember me at all. I don't meekly follow orders."

"You will this time," Yami insisted. He had taken control of the body; it's hard to make people take you seriously when you're transparent, and he desperately wanted Seth to listen. "While I'm gone, you must remain here. I'm sure I'll manage without you."

"That's what you said when you rode off to meet the Thief King," Seth said. "And let's not forget how that turned out."

Yami grimaced. "I have forgotten, Seth." His voice grew sharper. "That's why I need you to stay here. You will have time to prepare the spell to restore my memories."

Seth towered over the smaller man. "You don't need to protect me, Pharaoh."

The Pharaoh took a deep breath. "I know. But please, Seth, humor me."

The High Priest sighed and sank reluctantly back onto the couch. "As you command, my king. I will remain." Then his blue eyes narrowed in a glare that would have made Seto Kaiba proud. "But if you meet with some misfortune and are bleeding to death in the streets, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Understood."

It was at this point that Yugi, who had been standing and watching the whole thing in spirit form, broke in.

"Come on guys, it's just school. It's not like it's the end of the world."

Seth leaned back against the couch and grinned at Yugi. "With my king, everything is the end of the world."


"So you really think Seth will be able to restore the Pharaoh's memories?" Tea asked excitedly. The bell hadn't rung yet, and the students were all chattering animatedly.

"I hope so," Yugi said. "I mean, he was the High Priest and helped seal the Shadows away the first time."

"And he's already gotten points for insulting Kaiba," Joey said. "Saying he was too puny to be a threat, must have really gotten under Rich Boy's skin. Heh, heh, heh."

"Yeah, it's kinda nice to see someone who can get a reaction out of that guy," Tristan agreed. "He's usually as cold as ice."

Yugi looked troubled. "He was so angry."

Joey snorted. "More so than usual? Face it, Yug, that guy hates everybody."

"Not everybody," came the familiar voice from just behind them. "You're just special, mutt."

"I am not a dog!" Joey yelled, spinning around to face Kaiba. The brunette didn't spare him another glance. He was already focused on Yugi.

"Yugi," he hissed. "I told you to keep him away from me. What part of that was too complicated for you?"

The brunette looked awful. His face was pale and his brown hair was dull and plastered to his head. His eyes were bright with fever.

So that's where Seth went, Yugi gasped. To Kaiba.

So it seems, Yami said. Let me have the body.

The Millennium Puzzle glowed briefly, and when Yugi spoke, it was in the deep baritone his friends had come to associate with the Pharaoh.

"Kaiba, your connection with Seth is strong. It is only natural for him to seek out his other half."

"Keep your ridiculous theories to yourself," Kaiba said coldly.

"Continuing to deny your past will have an effect on your future, Kaiba," Pharaoh warned. "You must…"

"Spare me the lecture, Yugi," Kaiba interrupted. "We have a connection? Well, next time you see Seth, ask him where he got so good with knives." And with that, Kaiba strode to his seat and half fell into it.

Tea gulped. "Knives?"

Joey whistled. "When do we get to meet him?" If anything, he sounded even more excited than before. Tristan just looked worried.

Inside the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi and Yami exchanged a concerned look. It appeared they were dealing with more volatile elements than they had bargained for.


The cold metal felt good in his grip. He practiced again and again, imagining blood pumping from each bullet hole, the pain in that arrogant face. Hatred surged through him, gave him accuracy. Again and again, the gun spat fire. Those clear blue eyes going suddenly dull. Maybe he would beg, or cry, or rage helplessly as his life drained away. The man smiled. He pulled the trigger and watched the man-shaped target in front of him jerk under the impact, a tiny hole just above its heart.

"I'm coming for you, Seto Kaiba. And ven I do, you vill pay for your crimes."


After school, Yugi led the way to the game shop. A bell tinkled as he unlocked the door, and deep within the store, they heard movement.

"Seth?" Yugi reached for the light switch and flipped it on. Only to come face to face with a dragon. Yugi froze. Behind him, he could hear Joey, Tristan, and Tea scrambling backwards with startled yelps. The dragon opened its jaws and roared, so loudly that Yugi heard his eardrums pop. And it was only then that he recognized what it was.

"A Blue-Eyes White Dragon," he whispered.

"Kisara." The dragon lifted its head and Yugi could see a man standing against its side, protected by the curve of the dragon's tail.

"These are friends," Seth continued. "Besides, this place is too small for you, my love." The dragon nuzzled his cheek affectionately and slowly faded away.

"It's alright," Seth called to Tea, Tristan, and Joey, who were finally remembering how to breathe. "She will not hurt you."

"What was that?" Tristan asked uncertainly. Seth stood in the center of the room, arms loosely at his sides, but Tristan couldn't forget how the powerful dragon had obeyed him so readily.

"My ka," Seth replied bluntly. "And the soul of the woman I loved."

"She is beautiful." Yugi's voice was rich with sincerity, and a rare smile flitted across Seth's face.

"Yes, she is," he said. He glanced over his Yugi's shoulder. "Who are your friends?"

Yugi introduced them. Seth greeted them all politely and even bowed slightly when Tea was introduced. Despite this, there was an air of exhaustion about him.

"Are you okay?" Yugi asked. Seth looked at him and sighed.

"I'm not feeling all that well. I'm afraid it's a consequence of having a stubborn hikari who doesn't believe in magic." Off Yugi's look, he added. "I'll be fine." He forced himself to sound casual. "Did you run into my double today?"

"Yeah," Yugi replied. "He looked awful." He gasped. "Is that what happens when you are separated?" Seth nodded. Realization hit Yugi. "That's why you wanted to go to school this morning, wasn't it?"

Seth nodded again. "One of the reasons."

The Millennium Puzzle glowed. "Speaking of doubles," Yami said, his deep voice stern, "I understand you had an encounter with Kaiba while on your walk last night. He mentioned something about knives."

Seth snorted. "My other half refused to believe that I am real. I merely offered some…tangible proof." He grinned. "I have excellent aim with a blade."

"You threw a knife at him?" Tea squeaked.

"I didn't hurt him," Seth said nonchalantly. Tea was looking at him like he was a poisonous snake.

Joey started laughing. "His pride maybe. I wish I could have seen the look on Rich Boy's face."

"Where did you learn to throw knives?" Tristan asked, eyes wide.

"I copied the idea from the Thief King." Seth drew a small elaborately carved dagger from his belt. It looked out of place against Seth's modern clothing. "When you are charged with the defense of the Pharaoh, you never want to run out of options."

Without warning, he flung the knife forward with frightening speed and accuracy. The blade sank into the door frame a mere inch above Seto Kaiba's head