Author's Note: bluegirldreamin made art for this story! So happy! I uploaded it to my deviantart account, so come check it out! I have the same screen name. (anime-on-replay). Or, see the URL is at the top of my profile. :D YAYZ! IT'S SO FREAKING AWESOME!

Did I ever mention I totally suck at drawing? 'Cause I do. Seriously, I couldn't draw as good as bluegirldreamin if you gave me a hundred years to practice.

Story time, children! Gather around the computer, because here comes chapter five! :3

Chapter 5

"Lady Yugi..." Seto began to ask very slowly. But, his question was about the farthest thing that Atem or Yugi thought he would ask. "... You're from he Motou family?"

"Yes," she answered quietly, a bit confused to why this would be relevant news at this point.

"I-" the priest stuttered, "- I know your brother."

"You do?" Yugi looked in Seto's direction, wondering to what extent the High Priest knew her brother.

Seto swallowed and stated, "He was my best friend."

Yugi and Atem gasped.

-transition-

The temple doors slowly opened, a young boy walking through.

Seto turned and greeted, "Welcome. Who are you?"

The boy squinted his violet eyes at Seto and questioned, "You're a priest?" Seto nodded. He protested, "But, you're my age!"

"Well... Technically, I'm not a priest... Not yet anyway," Seto informed with a warm smile.

"Then, what are you doing here?" the boy questioned, a skeptical gaze lying on him.

Seto got the idea that this boy was a serious one, one not to take anything lightly. He wondered why he had visited the temple... Remembering that the boy had asked him a question, Seto answered, "I like to stay here in the temple and practice for when I'll be a priest someday."

"How are you so sure you'll be a priest?" he interrogated fiercely.

Seto was a bit upset that anyone would think otherwise but replied, "Because, I promised myself."

The boy seemed to scoff at this and muttered, "Could I perhaps talk to a real priest?"

Seto growled, "I will be a real priest."

The boy rolled his eyes.

Seto didn't know what possessed him to do this, but he found himself pouncing on the stranger, pushing him onto the floor. He sat on top of him and articulated with venom in every word, "I. Will. Be. A. Priest!"

The boy, with impressive strength for his petite size, pushed Seto off of him and pinned him down, proving that he could hold his own. He didn't say anything, though. But, in not saying anything, he said something. And, he said loud and clear that he didn't need to say anything to be better than Seto.

Seto ordered angrily, "Get off of me!"

"Or what?" The stranger pushed down harder on Seto's wrists that he had locked onto the floor.

"Or... this!" Seto used his weight to send the boy onto his back. The two boys rolled a few times until they were in a heap that could not be deciphered to who was winning.

Two priests walked into the temple entry and found the boys wrestling each other on the ground. "Seto!" one of the men yelled, surprised that the ten-year-old boy would be fighting another child. He knew Seto was a bit competitive, but he never seemed to anybody as one to get physically aggressive. The two priests pulled the boys apart, the kids still clawing at one another.

"Calm down," one of the men ordered the children, each priest holding a boy back. The taller of the priests questioned, "Now, what were you two fighting about?"

Seto pointed at the boy and stated, "He said I won't be a priest!"

"I never said that!" the other boy immediately denied.

"You did to!"

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Did not!"

"Did!"

"Not!"

"Did!"

"Not!"

"Quiet, boys!" the other priest commanded sternly, sending both young boys into silence. "Motou," the man urged, beginning to inch the boy towards the temple entrance, "I think it'd be best if you left."

"But, I need to talk to a priest!" 'Motou' protested.

The man sighed as he gently but firmly pushed the boy outside and promised, "I'll talk to you. Let's just talk outside."

'Motou' reluctantly obliged, disappearing out the temple doors.

Seto shook himself from the other priest's grasp and asked, "Can I go outside, too?"

"Later," the priest huffed. The temple priests loved Seto to pieces and thought it to be absolutely adorable that he had a dream to become the High Priest, but the boy was a handful. Someone always had to have an eye on him, what with his father being gone and all. His mother visited regularly but was often busy just making sure her son didn't starve.

Seto pouted but didn't object. Because, after a few moments, he sneaked out.

The brunette boy gazed down the road and saw the very melancholy-looking strange boy from earlier. He sprinted down dusty way and called, "Hey, wait up!"

The boy briefly acknowledged Seto and paused just long enough for the priest-to-be to catch up. Then, he continued walking.

"They said your name was 'Motou', right?" Seto questioned, having a hard time keeping up with the stranger's long, heavy strides.

"No, it's my family's name. People just call me that. I prefer it to my actual name. You may call me 'Motou' but nothing else," 'Motou' said in a tone laced with acid.

"What's your real name?" Seto wondered aloud.

"That is none of your business," 'Motou' snapped.

Seto chose to ignore this retort and enlightened, "I'm Seto."

"And, I don't care."

"You're not one to talk much, are you?"

The question caught 'Motou' off guard. His gait momentarily stopped then continued with more vigor as he countered, "And, you're not one to shut up much, are you?"

Again, Seto ignored this and inquired, "Why did you come to the temple?"

"Again, that's none of your concern."

"Tell me, or I'll follow you home."

"You are going to follow me home either way; I can just tell."

Seto smirked. It was true. His curiosity was slowly eating at him. "Tell me anyway," Seto told 'Motou' excitedly.

The boy glared at Seto but gave in, admitting, "I went to the temple to talk to a priest about having some guards and special servants assigned to my younger sister for her protection, She's blind."

This was not the explanation Seto was expecting. He whispered, "I'm sorry."

"I didn't ask for your sympathy," 'Motou' growled.

"Can I meet you sister?"

"I really rather you didn't."

"Why not?"

"Because, I said so."

"Okay..." Seto dropped it, seeing no point in provoking 'Motou' further. He was already pushing his luck pretty far.

A long silence stressed between the boys. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but it felt a bit forced.

Finally, stretched silence was forgotten in the light of a new subject.

"You know, I wasn't lying."

"What?" Seto questioned, confused to what 'Motou' was referring to.

'Motou' sighed and explained in a hushed tone, "You told them that I said you wouldn't be a priest. I never said that, so I wasn't lying when I denied it. I was simply implying that it was a lot of work and I wasn't sure if you were up to the challenge."

"I am," Seto promised.

"Then, answer this." 'Motou' turned to Seto and inquired, "Do you want to be a priest with all your heart?"

Seto took this into carefully consideration, not feeling rushed to answer the important question. After a moment, he replied, "Yes."

'Motou' gave a half a smile and whispered, "Then, you will be."

Seto smiled back, wider though. Now, instead of just having himself believe in his dream, he had his new friend, Motou believing as well.

"That's my family's manor," Motou interrupted Seto's thoughts.

Seto looked up and saw a large manor mansion on several, several acres of land. It was a huge house to anyone and an even larger house to ten-year-old Seto. His eyes grew wide. Could the palace be even more extravagant than this?

Motou turned to Seto and informed, "You may follow me inside, but do not," he moved up close to Seto's face, stressing, "Do not go anywhere near my sister. Am I clear?"

"As clear as the Nile, Motou," Seto replied, swallowing. Though the boy was much shorter than Seto, he was obviously a year or two older and very stern.

Without another word, Motou walked across the dusty manor and into the Motou residence, Seto following closely behind. The young priest-to-be found himself in a mansion with countless rooms and staircases leading this way and that. There was a courtyard in the very middle and walkways leading out north, south, east, and west. Seto couldn't believe how small he felt. If he felt somewhat lost in this huge estate, how did Motou's little, blind sister feel?

At the thought of this, Seto saw a young girl sitting on the top of the stairs. She was no older than seven and looked much younger. Her gaze was to the first floor below, but her eyes were closed. She was just listening, contemplating every sound that came to her ears.

Seto glanced at Motou. He hadn't seemed to notice his sister at the top of the staircase and continued walking towards the courtyard. He walked in such quiet, if Seto's eyes were closed, he would have been convinced no one was home. He wondered if Motou was walking silently on purpose...

Motou's foot gently hit the side of the staircase as he passed. The sound was soft but echoed in the large house.

Immediately, Motou's sister's eyes opened, and she cried, "Brother! You're back!" She began to descend the stairs slowly.

"No, sister, go back up," Motou ordered sternly. His voice wasn't strained or loud but suggested that it was not a tone to be ignored or disobeyed. He almost sounded like a parent.

The sister stopped then turned back around, soundlessly returning to wherever she had been before she was waiting for her brother to return.

Seto felt sorry for the girl. Did her brother always order her around like that? Where were her parents? Why was she taking orders from him? Why couldn't she come down the stairs? All these questions and more assaulted Seto's mind. He stopped at the edge of the staircase, overcome by these thoughts.

Motou swiftly turned around and questioned sharply, "What are you doing?"

"Just... resting..." The lie was obvious.

Motou growled, "Are you sure you weren't going to go see my sister?"

Seto thought for a millisecond. That's what it sure looked like, didn't it? He straightened and responded, "Of course not."

He followed the still strange boy through the house, Motou's sister becoming a distant memory.

That was the first and last time he ever saw the boy's sister or heard her speak.

Or so he thought.

-transition-

"Lady Yugi, answer me!"

Yugi swiftly walked through the halls down to where her chamber was. It was less of a walk and more of a sprint. Her long hair flew behind her as she ran and her hands were covering her ears.

"Why did you run away? Who is this person? Yugi, why aren't you telling me anything?" Prince Atem did not kindly to being left in the dark. He needed some of his questions answered, and by Ra! He was going to get them.

Yugi dashed into her room and closed the door behind her. She leaned her back on it and began to feel light tears rest on her lower lashes. She slid down the door and sat on the floor, lying her head in her crossed arms.

Atem stopped as he saw that the door to Lady Yugi's room had been shut. He leaned his head on the door and listened. By the sniffles and heavy breaths he heard seeming close, he could decipher that Yugi was leaned up against the door.

He whispered through the door, "Lady Yugi, please tell me..." He couldn't decide what question to ask first, so he just asked the one biting at him the most. "Why did you run away?"

There was no response, only the occasional sniffle. Atem was afraid she would never reply.

But, after a moment, her voice came through the door, saying very weakly, "I ran away... for protection."

"Did your brother hurt you?" Atem interrogated, feeling a distinct urge to punch Yugi's brother through a wall if he caused her pain.

"No..." Her voice was muffled and quiet.

"Then, why would you leave for protection?" Atem continued to question. Nothing was adding up. Nothing made sense.

"He... He hurt other people," she added, "He said he hurt them... because of me."

"Why?"

"He said... they were either putting me or danger or he was just doing what was best for me..."

"Did he kill people?"

They was no answer to this.

Atem deciphered that this meant yes. "Murder is illegal. Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Who was a supposed to tell?"

"Your parents?"

A sob was choked from the other side of the door. Atem immediately wished he could have taken back the suggestion. Of course, Yugi's parents were dead. They wouldn't be of any help.

"Lady Yugi?"

"Yes?"

Atem sat on the stone floor and against the door, feeling that the explanation to his next question might take a while. He inquired, "On the next question that I ask, can you be truthful?"

"... Yes."

"Tell me," Atem ordered softly, "Did you come here of your own freewill?"

"I did."

"Then, why did you struggle on the way into the courtroom?"

Yugi was quiet for a while. Finally, she replied, "I told the Prince and Pharaoh before; I was mourning for my parents."

"Either you are lying to me or you are leaving something out, because this puzzle is missing a few crucial pieces."

Without warning, the door opened, Atem toppling onto the floor because of his leaning position on it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were sitting there," Yugi apologized after hearing Atem hit the floor.

"The apology is accepted," Atem informed her, standing up and dusting himself off. As he rose, he asked, "Will you answer my questions now?"

Yugi bit her lower lip, debating in her mind whether to convey something to this young man she had only met the week before. Finally, she whispered, "I suppose I do not have much of a choice. If my brother is coming, the Pharaoh and Prince will have to know about it. You can tell them what I will tell you."

"… Yes," was all the Atem could think to respond.

She motioned him inside. He led himself in, feeling inside him that the stories that Lady Yugi would be painful for her to recite and for him to hear.

Author's Note: I could have gone on, but it was getting really, really long. Fact: I was starting to get writer's block towards the beginning of the flashback in this chapter. I was literally banging my hands on my keyboard, crying, "NOOOOOOOO! I can't get writer's block! NO!" See, I don't get writer's block often, but when I get it, it's BAD. Luckily, there's an easy cure for my writer's block. All I got to do is throw in something completely random and totally out of place at that time. Hence, Seto and 'Motou's' fight scene. That was fun to write. :3

Sorry for rambling! Review anyone?