Ryou maneuvered around the corners of the palace watching the teenager the king had transported sneak through small cracks and hiding himself whenever he heard others coming near. Ryou admired how the boy was able to hide easily and avoid detection. But he was better, being a cat he snuck in tight spots and even though his hair was white he blended in with the environment.

Fifteen minutes of this dance went on, with the boy cautiously walking through halls, doorways, and hiding behind curtains, but he noticed that the boy was looking for something.

Yugi felt that he was being followed. The feeling was familiar and he knew how to keep away; except this thing following him would not hurt him, Yugi could tell. The thing was watching him, but without viciousness. Yugi walked slower and let the thing catch up. One part of him he hated was his curiousness, which was partly why he got into bully territory because he thought there was an interesting event going on.

Ryou saw the boy slow and quickly stopped. The boy stopped too and Ryou decided to get a closer look at the Queen-to-be. He was pretty, with big amethyst jewels and pale skin. His hair resembled the king's, except for the magenta tips and softness that it held. Ryou kept staring at the strange clothes. It looked like a uniform. It was blue and the boy wore a white shirt underneath and Ryou noticed an undershirt. Through all this, he did not know he came closer to the boy until it was too late. The boy turned…

Yugi turned and saw a Neko. A real live Neko! Sitting in front of him; the Neko shook a bit, but Yugi quickly knelt down to calm the poor Neko. He shivered still but looked at Yugi with curiousness that was all too known to Yugi. He held his hand for the Neko to come closer, he did and Yugi started to pet him gently on the head. The Neko was hesitant but then melted into the soft petting.

Yugi studied him. He had snow white hair, a big fluffy tail, and two cute pointy ears. The Neko wore a uniform of sorts, from what Yugi could tell. It was a beige tunic with brown lines to decorate the sleeves and lower part. It looked comfy for the Neko. Yugi glanced at the hands and feet of the creature and saw in place of nails were sharp claws. He saw that the eyes were green, which suited the paleness of the Neko.

Ryou rolled on his back, purring still, hoping the boy knew what he meant. He did and started to rub his belly and scratch under his chin. Ryou could not help but enjoy this treatment. Akefia did something similar but it lead to sex or was after sex. This petting was friendlier, and he figured that this was how cats were treated in the human world. The boy stopped and Ryou knew it was over.

"Um, sorry but I-I kinda need a way out. I don't suppose you can talk?"

Ryou stood up on his two legs. The boy was surprised to see that he towered over him a good bit.

"Yes."

"Cool, my name's Yugi, what's yours?" he said excitedly, knocking off Ryou a bit.

"I-I am Ryou," he bowed.

"Why are you bowing? This isn't a formal greeting."

Oh, he's doesn't know does he. Wait…

"Um, no disrespect, intended, but what language do you speak?"

Yugi looked confused. "Japanese, same as you."

So, His Highness put a spell on him. He doesn't know he's speaking Aramaic. Ryou got up and gave Yugi a sheepish grin.

"You said you needed help."

"Yes. I need to get out of here and back home. Grandpa's worried sick by now."

Ryou nodded and swallowed. He did not want to lie to Yugi, the boy was sweet and he wanted to be on good terms with his future Queen, but he knew that the king would be very displeased to find his soul mate had wandered off.

"I can take you to a place where no one will find you. And I know someone who can help."

"Thank you."

Yugi sat on the bed with his new friend Ryou lounging next to him. Ryou told him the room belonged to his lover, Akefia, who was in the throne room. Yugi told Ryou his version of the story, and it took all Ryou's self-control not to laugh. Yugi honestly thought that he was in Limbo, as he dubbed it, and that he was taken by Yami, the Grim Reaper.

Ryou had told him that he was not in Limbo, that Limbo was much brighter and less solid. He told Yugi he was in the Shadow Realm, which was the realm under Limbo. It was where all the magical creatures lived and that there were lost souls in some parts, but they were locked inside relics that kept them safe until angels came to retrieve them. He also said Yami was not the Grim Reaper, but their king.

Yugi nodded with pure wonderment in his eyes. Ryou did not doubt that Yugi was one of them; he was not sure which one.

"I can't believe this is real," Yugi glanced at Ryou, "but you and everything else I've seen today proves it. I…when I read those books I could feel that something was true in them, besides the allegories and metaphors of life. Never thought I would see it."

Yugi sighed contently and came close to Ryou. He hugged the Neko and nuzzled against the softness of the other. Ryou purred again returning the hug.

"Oh, umm, silly me, but you don't know why you're here."

Yugi pulled back and nodded, "Yeah, I mean I heard the king talking to me, but I faded out of the conversation. So, why am I here?"

"Yugi, you are the king's soul mate and our future Queen," Ryou said proudly.

When he did not receive a response, he saw that Yugi's face was blank and eyes had somehow widened.

"Yugi…"

Yugi backed away as if he was to be attacked by a viper, and yelled, "What?!"

HW

Sugoroku had faced tough adversaries before, like those bastard brothers who tried to swindle him at the Valley of the Kings, or that crazy man who played dangerous games and one that involved aging. Luckily, Sugoroku had only lost three while that maniac gained forty years of age. But now, when he was safe in his home and business with a cup of hot tea he felt decrepit, old, and useless.

Yugi, his only grandchild and family, had been missing all night.

It was past two a.m. and Seto Kaiba had not left since finding out that Yugi had not returned from going to buy milk. He had found the bag with the milk, but no sign of Yugi. The police told Sugoroku that he could not report his grandson missing until twenty four hours had passed. Seto took on himself at Mokuba's worried eyes to ask around the convenience store. The clerk told him he saw the boy leave and assumed he went home.

He sighed and drank his lukewarm coffee, Mokuba slept on the couch with a blanket. Seto glanced at the old man across from him. He looked as defeated as the day Seto challenged him for the fourth Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Sugoroku had suffered a heart attack afterwards and Yugi came into Seto's life.

He hated the shrimp for defeating him, but then Yugi helped him rescue his brother from Pegasus. Then in the virtual world Mokuba had Yugi get him through the levels to save Seto from the traitorous Big Five. Seto snorted. This was strange for him to care if another might be hurt, maybe it was Mokuba's influence, but Seto kept his composure. Behind his stern scowl he was worried for Yugi's safety.

Sugoroku sighed. "Kaiba-san, it's no use staying up so late hoping he'll come. I know my grandson…" he trailed off. Seto nodded. He went to wake up Mokuba but Sugoroku stopped him.

"Let him rest. You can stay in the guest room upstairs."

"There is no need, Motuo-sama, we both have to be in school tomorrow," Seto said lamely.

Sugoroku smiled knowingly and nodded to the staircase.

Seto tucked Mokuba into the bed. Sugoroku went to his room, leaving the third door to be Yugi's room. Ignoring his better judgment, Seto stepped into Yugi's room. He supposed all the prize money from Duelist Kingdom went to Sugoroku's medical bills and debt. He looked around the room. The shelves had stacks of books and games and the desk little else of difference except for notebooks, school supplies, and a laptop. Seto inhaled, and let out a shaky breath.

This was not right, Yugi should be with him and Mokuba, and not where ever he was. Where could he be?

SR

Atem panicked as he saw Yugi was no longer in his room. He had to act fast to find out what happened to his Little One. He ran straight to Karim, about to demand a search party when he was on the ground.

He struggled against his assailant when he saw smoky blue-violet eyes gleaming at him.

Atem growled lowly, "Get off you cretin! I –"

"Yugi's in my room."

Atem's breath hitched.

"I saw him with my Ryou go in there after I left. I've been looking everywhere for you, you damned impatient man."

They both got up and Atem almost dashed out of the room if Akefia did not catch him.

"What now?"

"I don't think our guest is really up to you barging in on him. Atem, he needs to come to you."

Atem scowled, but knew that Yugi was confused by all this, Akefia was right.

"Do you have a plan?"

"No," Atem scowled deeper, "but I stayed a bit at the door eavesdropping, we will be seeing them soon. Let's head to the throne room."

Akefia dragged his king to the awaiting dinner party, were all the royals were eagerly waiting to meet the human Queen.