Chapter 1

Yugi pushed his legs harder as he checked his watch again. 9:58 am. Crap, crap, crap! he thought to himself as he skidded around a corner. He felt a smirk in the back of his mind.

This isn't funny, Yugi told himself.

I'm sorry Aibou, but I'm afraid I disagree, an ancient pharaoh replied as his translucent form shimmered into reality beside a panting Yugi.

Yugi just huffed and kept running. The young college student finally caught sight of the doors to his lecture hall and slowed down rather than run head first into them. He scanned the room for the familiar head of wild, curly black hair and upon finding it sat down beside the owner. Alex raised an eyebrow at him when he flopped into the seat still panting.

"My left shoe decided to play hide and seek this morning," Yugi explained pulling out his books.

"Well it's a good thing you found it. I doubt Seto would be too happy to hear the King of Games title had been won by a shoe," she teased.

Yugi pouted for a second. Then they both burst into laughter picturing Kaiba's face.

"Hey can I borrow your notes from Monday night's makeup lecture?" Yugi asked after they had calmed down.

"Here," she said handing him some papers. "I already copied my notes for you."

Yugi beamed. "You're the best Alex." He really was lucky he had met Alex when they were in their first year of college. She was in the Ancient History program specializing in Egyptology same as Yugi was and they quickly became good friends. Not only did she love Duel Monsters, but she was also a huge help whenever one of their lectures or meetings were rescheduled to sometime in the evening.

"Don't mention it," she waved him off with a smile. "It's not like you could've skipped out on helping your grandpa at the shop."

Yugi tried not to flinch and shared a sad look with Yami out of the corner of his eye. "Right." Yugi hated lying to Alex, but there was no way he could explain what he actually did at night. Even after all the magic and mayhem he and the gang had been through he still had trouble wrapping his head around it all sometimes. And he had been there.

Alex shot him a look sensing the change in his mood, but before she could say anything the professor started the lecture.

"Good morning everyone. Before I continue where we left off last week with the mummification process, the dean has asked all the professors to make an announcement to their classes. As you might've heard, there's been several reports of suspicious looking men lurking around campus and young women who think they're being followed. It has come to the attention of the college that there have now been disappearances."

Yugi and Yami's eyes narrowed at the news. They're escalating.

I know. We have to put a stop to it.

"Try not to be out after dark, and if you do have to, please make sure you walk with a friend, or several, and stay in crowded areas," The professor finished. "Now, getting back into Egypt…"

"Alex," Yugi whispered.

"Yeah?" she asked leaning closer to him.

"Don't you usually practice with the gymnastics team until really late on Wednesdays and Thursdays?" Yugi asked worried.

"Yeah, but I always walk home with a couple of the girls," she smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be careful Yugi."

Yugi sat back only marginally reassured. If his and Yami's suspicions were right, there was very little Alex or any other human would be able to do to protect themselves from these men.

"Class dismissed."

Yugi and Alex packed up their bags and started walking to meet up with their friends.

"So, where do you think we should go for lunch Yugi?" Alex asked.

"Well-"

"Wait, let me guess, you're about to say Burger World," Alex teased.

Yugi laughed. "You could be right about that."

"Hey Yug! Short Stuff!"

Yugi and Alex turned, the latter scowling, to see Tristan, Tea, and the person who had greeted them, Joey.

"For the last time Joey, don't call me Short Stuff!" Alex yelled.

"Jus' sayin' it like it is," Joey teased.

"That is not how it is! In case you missed it, you're a freaking giant!"

Yugi couldn't help but grin as he watched Alex go back and forth with Joey. He had to admit, it was nice to not be the shortest in his friend group anymore after his long awaited growth spurt. He might not be anywhere near Joey and Tristan's heights, but he was at least taller than Tea and Alex. Not that Alex was that much shorter than him, only a couple of inches really, but still. He turned to look at Yami, only to find the pharaoh fixated on the fight with an intense, unreadable expression. Yami? Are you ok?

Yami seemed to jump slightly, and shook his head as if to clear it. Yes aibou, I'm fine. Yami smiled at Yugi.

If you're sure…

I am.

"Hello? Earth to Yugi?" A hand waved in front of his face.

"Wah! What?!" Yugi stumbled back at the sudden appearance of the hand.

Alex giggled. "Honestly Yugi, you can be such a space case sometimes. Come on, do you want to go to Burger World or not?"

"Of course I want to go to Burger World! What kind of a question is that?" Yugi exclaimed.

"Well come on! Last one there is a slimy Marshmellon!"

"Hey! I like Marshmellon!" Yugi shouted running after her.

"Then you won't mind losing for once!"

Yami watched them for a moment before retreating back into the puzzle. There was something different about Alex. He'd always known it, but he could never quite figure out what it was. All he knew was that it wasn't a bad kind of different, and he was the only one that sensed it. Even Yugi noticed nothing, which was very rare since they shared a mind. Shaking thoughts of the pretty brunette away, Yami settled down in the puzzle to get some rest. He had work to do tonight.

"See you later boys."

"Huh?" Joey said looking up at Tea and Alex who were packing their things. "Where are you two going?"

"We're going shopping and having some girl time this afternoon before Alex's gymnastics practice later," Tea said leaning down to give Yugi a kiss goodbye. Alex grinned at the goofy smile on his face when Tea pulled away again. They really were a cute couple.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Alex called over her shoulder as the girls left Burger World.

"So are we looking for anything specific today or are we just browsing?" Tea asked as they walked down the street towards the mall.

"Well," Alex considered. "I was thinking about getting a new dress…"

"Ooooo, has Alex finally got herself a hot date?" Tea teased.

"Hardly," Alex laughed. "But I'm doing a presentation in one of my classes next week and none of the few dresses I have seemed right."

"Pffft, boring," Tea said. "Seriously Alex when was the last time you went out?"

Alex thought about it. "You know, I'm not actually sure." Tea gave her a look. "What? I just haven't found anyone who caught my eye, that's all. Not all of us can have the perfect love story like you and Yugi."

Tea blushed slightly. "I'd hardly call our relationship perfect."

"Uh-huh," Alex said not convinced. Tea's reply was cut off by the sound of Alex's text message alert going off.

"Who is it?" Tea asked curiously.

"Seto. He wants my opinion on something and wanted to know if I can drop by his office later," Alex said as she typed her response.

Tea nodded, then her eyes widened as she thought of something. "You're not in some kind of secret relationship with Kaiba are you?!"

Alex tripped and nearly dropped her phone in shock. "Of course not! Where the hell did that come from?!" she frowned.

"Well you haven't gone on any dates in forever and Kaiba's not the type of person to easily make friends…" Tea trailed off.

"I told you Tea, I haven't dated anyone because no one has caught my eye. And I've also told you guys a million times that Seto and I are just friends."

Admittedly, it was an unlikely friendship. They had met on Christmas Eve. It was late and very dark and Alex had been running through the streets of Domino like a crazy person.

The rain was cold and sharp as she ran through the dark. She had no idea where she was going all she knew was she had to run. Get away. Anywhere to escape this nightmare. They weren't dead, there's no way that all of her family and friends were dead. Just earlier this evening they had been sitting around her home trading Christmas presents at her family's annual party.

The doctor's voice ran out in her head again. "Fire broke out… house was consumed in moments… you lost consciousness from smoke inhalation but someone pulled you out before the house collapsed… you're lucky to be alive… they couldn't get anyone else in time… only survivor."

She sobbed again and pushed her legs harder to get away from the hospital, not realizing she was running into the middle of a street. The bright headlights seemed to appear out of nowhere. She froze.

The car managed to shriek to a halt mere inches before her legs.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" a man, no boy, demanded as he got out of the back of the limo. The girl just looked at him with blank glassy eyes. "I nearly hit you!" he yelled.

She continued to stare at him for a moment before she finally whispered, "That's what I was hoping for." She then collapsed into sobs and fell into his very surprised arms.

The boy happened to be a fifteen year old Seto Kaiba on his way home from work. Not entirely sure why he did, Seto comforted Alex and managed to pull the story out of her. He sympathized with her, after all he knew what it was like to lose one's parents and their whole life in the blink of an eye. Feeling a duty to take care of her and protect her he took Alex in. Social workers eventually came around, but after a few meetings with Kaiba Corp lawyers, Alex was allowed to stay in the Kaiba mansion rather than go into foster care. She still attended her old high school rather than switch to Domino High with Seto since she only had a couple years of school left. And once she got her feet under her and gathered some funds she moved into her own apartment.

Shaking the memories away, Alex focused back on her conversation with Tea. "Seto and Mokuba are like brothers to me. Actually, scratch that. They are my brothers. In every way except by blood."

Tea held up her hands in defeat. "Ok, ok, forget I said anything. OOOOOOO, I just spotted a dress that was made for you!" Tea grabbed Alex's hand and raced into the store with her where they spent the rest of the afternoon.