Author's Note: I know it's late… Sorry.

Enough weak apologies.

On with the next chapter! :3

Chapter 17

Yugi held a finger to her lips. Mana fell into quiet. Yugi took a silent sigh of relief and closed her eyes, beginning to focus on the sounds around her.

"What are you doing?" Mana questioned in her not-so-quiet whisper.

"Listening," Yugi answered simply, placing her finger on her lips once again to make Mana fall back into silence.

Yugi thought about the sounds she heard. Under the palace, one would think sounds would be minimal, but several noises could be heard echoing through the underground hallways.

First was a sharp piercing sounds, long and steady. It sounded like a whistle for a dog. Yugi figured this sound must be the wind whistling through the crevices of the palace.

Another sound was a quiet murmur of chatter between two or more people. Yugi didn't recognize any of the voices, so she decided they didn't concern her.

Lastly was an eerie patter of footsteps, the sound retreating, not nearing. This perplexed Yugi, and she wished to know who would be down there alone.

"Mana, do you hear that person walking away?" Yugi inquired in a hushed tone.

"No," Mana answered honestly.

"Well, do you see someone walking away?"

"I'm sorry, Lady Yugi, but no. It's so dark down here… I can't see anything!"

You get used to it. "Then, come with me. I can hear it really easily, so I'll follow it. I wish to know where this person is going."

"All right," Mana agreed, taking Yugi's hand so that the girl could lead her. Mana's grip was firm. If Yugi or Mana could see at the moment, they would have noticed that Mana's knuckles were white. Though she'd never admit it, Mana was afraid of being in the dark. Luckily, Yugi was far too used to it to care.

Yugi began to drag Mana along, the magician in training making small eep! sounds every time she heard something stir. Yugi just kept her head up and steady, the darkness not frightening her in the least. In fact, it was somewhat comforting to know that she wasn't the only one that couldn't see at that moment. It gave her something to dwell on while she followed the sound of receding footsteps.

Suddenly, Yugi stopped, Mana yelping in surprise at the abrupt halt.

"What is it?" Mana asked, squeezing Yugi's hand tighter.

"The footsteps stopped," Yugi stated.

"Oh…" Mana scratched her head before saying, "… I know! I'll do a little magic and conjure up us a light!"

Yugi was a little afraid to ask, but she asked anyway. "If you could create light this whole time, why didn't you do it in the first place?"

"I, uh, forgot," Mana admitted, her face reddening in the darkness. Yugi sighed. Mana chanted a hymn and a little light grew in the palm of her hand. "Oh, magnificent! Now we can see!"

Yugi didn't have to say anything.

"Uh, I mean, now I can see," Mana corrected herself. Yugi just nodded.

She questioned, "Mana, what is around us?"

"Um…" Mana shined the light around the hallway they were in. "… We're in a hallway… And there's lots of doors…"

"Do you see anyone?"

"… No," Mana replied after another look around.

Yugi rested a finger on her lower lip and thought. She resorted to closing her eyes again, trying to zero-in on the footsteps again. After a moment, she heard the echoing patter return.

"Mana, this way," Yugi hissed, rapidly seizing Mana's hand and dragging her towards the sound. She did not want to lose the trail again.

Within a few seconds, Mana whispered frantically, "Lady Yugi, stop!"

Yugi jerked to a halt, questioning, "Why?"

"The person… you're following… he's just up ahead," Mana panted through her declaration, out of breath from both running and fear.

"Then, put your light out, or he'll see it!" Yugi whispered anxiously. Mana did as she was told, and Yugi went on to implore, "Did you catch a glimpse of whom it was?"

"Sorry, no," Mana informed sadly, giving a small sigh.

"Then, we must follow very quietly," Yugi stressed, taking Mana's hand again and leading her on the path of the footsteps, now just more slowly. Now that she thought about it, the footsteps had gotten louder, which in essence meant that had gotten closer. She just hadn't noticed, because her mind was still wondering why Mana hadn't thought of using her magic earlier. Was she really that dense? Yugi couldn't believe that, being that everyone she had ever met had had both their weaknesses and their strengths. Maybe Mana just hadn't found her strengths yet. Or maybe she just didn't have the opportunity to shine them yet. Either way, Yugi refused to believe that Mana was completely incompetent…

"Lady Yugi, the man went into a room," Mana alerted.

"Wait, I thought you couldn't see…"

"My night vision has seemed to adjusted."

"'Night vision'?"

"Seeing person's thing."

"Oh." Yugi just shook the new concept out of her mind. The information was of no use to her anyway. "Which way?"

"Left."

Silence met this.

"I mean, uh-" Mana took Yugi's shoulders and turned her left. "-This way."

Yugi nodded. She and Mana sneaked up to the doorway in which the person had disappeared through, but voices made them stop in their tracks.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Priest Seto."

"I would say it was my pleasure, but that wouldn't be the truth, would it, Yami?"

Yugi and Mana simultaneously sunk against the wall outside the door, listening intently to the conversation through the stone.

While Mana strained to hear the exchange between them, Yugi had no troubles deciphering what was being said. A few more lines had been emitted but nothing on significant value. Then, the real conversation started.

"Why did you want me to meet you here anyway?" Seto interrogated through the wall.

"Only to inform you that Bakura is outside the walls."

Seto was silent. Yugi felt herself tense.

"What?"

"Can you not hear correctly?"

"No, I can hear you completely fine! Why is he here?"

"Hmm… Probably because I told him doing so would be profitable."

"You bastard, tell me your plans or I'll-!"

"Now, now, no need for language or threats." Yami continued, his tone dripping with scorn, "Bakura and I are temporarily teamed up. And if I don't get Yugi soon, I'll have to tell Bakura that it's perfectly acceptable for him to pillage the palace…" He gave a dramatic pause. "… And take Yugi by force."

"Leave her alone!" Seto shouted, his anger obviously getting the best of him, "Why do you even want Yugi anyway?"

Yami fell into silence at this, surprising both Seto and Yugi. Yugi had always wondered the same thing… Why?

Yami hesitantly admitted, "… Words fail me at describing this feeling, but I wish to have some form of my bloodline with me. Perhaps it's just human nature, but I feel terrible when I'm unaccompanied by some form of my family. Yugi is all I have left-"

"Because you got rid of the rest!" Seto hissed.

"- Only because they were in my way. Yugi is the only kind of family I have- my sister, no less. As such, she is to be with me at all times. If not, I can't be held responsible for what will happen to Egypt." Yugi knew Yami was sporting a sinister smirk now. "Bakura isn't the one in charge anymore, didn't you know? I am. He keeps his title as Thief King, but I occupy the role of Egypt's king."

"Egypt already has a king!" Seto objected fervently, "And he's the best Pharaoh we've ever had! I'll be damned if he is overthrown by some nonconformist rebel and his insane ways!"

Yami was quiet once again. Yugi thought her heart had stopped. Why did this feeling always revisit her?

Finally, Yami conveyed, "… You've come a long way, Seto. Very well. I accept your challenge. And may the best man get the prize."

"And the prize is…" Seto waited for Yami to finish his statement.

Yami's footsteps started to make their way to the door as he enlightened-

"Control."

With that, Yami stepped out of the room, much to the fright of Yugi and Mana who were hidden in the shadows. Thankfully, he made the opposite turn, just missing his sister and the magician in training's fearful gaze.

Seto then stepped out. He, however, made the other turn, running right into Yugi.

"Lady Yu-"

Yugi covered his mouth with her hand in a matter of milliseconds. Then, Mana leaned up towards him and stressed, "We will talk later. Here is not the place."

Seto nodded, Yugi's hand still covering his mouth.

-transition-

"You heard all that, didn't you?" Seto asked as they reached the surface, though he already knew the answer.

Yugi nodded, her eyes closed. She was terrified to open them for fear she might begin to cry if she did.

Mana cried worriedly, "In our defense, we were not spying! We just happened to be at the right place at the right time!"

"More like the wrong place at the wrong time…" Seto muttered.

Yugi simply nodded again.

"We should alert the Pharaoh right away," Seto immediately proposed.

"Yes," Yugi finally spoke, "And tell him that I surrender." She swallowed. "Yami wins."

Author's Note: Yes, I DID just leave it there. *evil laugh* But don't be too down! Next update will be soon, promise!

Review time, everybody! With all my heart, I implore you to review. :3