Seto felt nervous as he descended the stairs towards the ground floor of KaibaCorp so he could exit the building for his lunch break. He'd rarely ever taken a proper lunch break in all his time working here, but he'd never before left the building in order to do so. He was today, though, because he'd promised Dr. Bakura that he would.

When picking up Mokuba the night before, Seto had been pulled aside by his friend's father for a brief chat, during which he'd been persuaded to take Ishizu out for coffee. In retrospect, Seto felt like he'd been set up on a date, but it was too late now to back out. He'd already agreed and Ishizu was expecting him.

Given the way you were gaping at her, I would have expected you to be pleased at seeing her again, Seth teased from the back of his mind.

I was not gaping.

I wouldn't bet on it if I were you.

Seto shrugged off Seth's comment And walked with confidence towards the museum sponsored by Dr. Bakura's university. He was going to meet Ishizu at the museum and take her to the cafe two blocks away, where they would… talk. Probably.

It was understandable if Ishizu was quiet, given that she was living in a new country that spoke a language she'd only learned recently, but he had some questions that only she could answer, so hopefully he'd get her to say something. He found Ishizu in the lobby speaking to one of the professors in the archaeology department—not Dr. Bakura, which was a little bit of a relief, though he wasn't sure why.

"Thank you again, Naomi, for all you've done to help us," Ishizu was saying to her companion as Seto approached her. "How could we ever repay your generosity?"

"No repayment is necessary. That's what friends are for, dear," Naomi returned warmly. "Where would we be if people need to look out for each other? I won't keep you any longer. Have fun, you two!" She was speaking to Seto too, now.

"Thank you, Dr. Sasaki," Seto interjected as she waved to the both of them and walked away. He'd met her once during the spring when he was interning for Dr. Bakura at the university. He remembered that she'd only been back in Domino for a week before returning to Egypt to be with Ishizu and Rishid. She'd stayed with them in Egypt for months helping with the emigration paperwork and teaching them Japanese—and any number of other things about the modern world.

"Are you ready?" Seto asked, turning to Ishizu, who offered a him a slight smile.

"Yes."

"Alright, let's go."

They were mostly silent as they made their way through the tourists that heavily populated the sidewalks to the cafe, where the line was short and the wait was shorter. Ishizu seemed slightly uneasy the whole time, fidgeting with her silky gold scarf and the skirt of her long blue tunic that she wore with ankle-length leggings. She didn't wear the gold bracelets and arm-bands that Marik wore as often as possible, but Seto attributed that to a wise realization that wearing so much gold in public would draw unwanted attention. There was still a flash of gold at her ears and in her hair, but not enough to make her stand out. She didn't seem to relax until they were seated together at a small table in the private garden patio behind the cafe—Seto with his coffee and Ishizu with her tea.

"So you're Marik's older sister?"

"Yes, by four years."

That made her about twenty.

"When he first came to Domino," Seto began slowly. "He gave me something, saying that you told him to give it to me."

"Yes, the Millennium Rod." Ishizu smiled enigmatically, as if this paradox didn't trouble her at all—which, to be fair, it probably didn't.

"Why?" It wasn't his only question for her, but it was a good place to start.

"Because it is your destiny," she answered calmly, her voice as smooth as slow-churned ice cream. {history repeats itself in a never-ending cycle, quote from S2 E?}

"How did you know about me?"

Ishizu reached up to her scarf and tugged at it until it was loose enough to reveal the gold necklace resting snugly around her neck. "I know because of this, the Millennium Necklace." She rested one fingertip against the eye-shaped pendant. "With this, I can see the past, the present, and the future." Seto was stunned and slightly skeptical, and his expression must have told her as much, because then she said, "I can prove it to you: ask me what any of your friends are doing right now, and I can tell you."

"What's Mokuba doing?"

"He's sharing his fruit snacks with Amane," Ishizu answered after a moment, the necklace glowing softly under her touch.

"Did I use the elevator or the stairs to go up to the lobby when I left KaibaCorp?"

"You went down the stairs." She smirked slightly, having caught his subtle trick. "You work on the third floor, not in the basement."

"Impressive." He gazed at her contemplatively as she dropped her hand from her neck and sipped her tea.

"Do you believe me yet, or would you like to test my abilities further?" Ishizu looked at him calmly, as if nothing could disturb her peace of mind.

"What was I doing this day last year?"

"Hm." Ishizu touched her necklace again and closed her eyes for focus. "You were at school... doing calculus homework in an empty classroom during lunch." He'd done that almost every day last school year, but not even Marik could have told her that. She opened her eyes and added, "At least, it looks like calculus."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know everything," Ishizu explained, dropping her hand again. "I can only know the things that others have seen. My Necklace lets me look through someone else's eyes to see what has happened, what is happening, or what will happen."

"So if a tree falls in the forest, and no one's there to hear it..."

"I wouldn't know." She answered the age-old riddle with a delicate shrug.

"Even with that limitation, that seems like a lot of power for one person to have."

"So you say, but you have been entrusted with the Rod, the only Millennium Item that actually possesses the ability to enslave people's minds."

Seto stiffened, expecting an accusation to follow, but when none came, his shoulders relaxed.

"I don't use it that way."

"I know. And I don't use the Millennium Necklace for personal gain of any kind, though many others would if they were given the chance." She blinked at him calmly. "The Millennium Items have a way of choosing people who won't abuse them."

"What about Maximilian Pegasus?" Seto arched one eyebrow at her, crossing his arms as he remembered quite vividly the way the multimillionaire had abducted two children and held them captive in a dungeon.

"I can't answer for why things happen the way they do." Ishizu spoke slowly, looking regretful as she sought the words she needed to defend herself. "I know that Pegasus was given the eye because it was his fate and because... he needed to have it." She hadn't meant to bring this up so soon in their conversation, but since it had come up, she'd take advantage of the opportunity. "That's something I actually wanted to discuss with you."

"I don't understand."

Ishizu slipped her hand into an inconspicuous pocket on the side of her tunic. "I met Mr. Pegasus once, months ago."

"You did?" This news couldn't have shocked him more. "How?"

"He was visiting Egypt and, well, it's a long story. You don't need to know all of the details—"

"Yet, you expect me to trust you?" Seto wasn't trying to be confrontational, but he thought it was reasonable to ask for more information. Ishizu thoughtfully bit her bottom lip, the hand that she'd slipped into her pocket now resting in her lap, hidden from view by the table.

"I suppose it is a fair request," she acknowledged, looking either reluctant or embarrassed. Seto couldn't decide if it was either or both. She began to look a little lost as she gathered her thoughts together. "I suppose it would be best to start from the beginning..."

"It usually is."

"Duel Monsters was played by Ancient Egyptians three thousand years ago."

"Yeah, and the Romans played Pokemon." Seto made no attempt to hide his sarcasm.

"Don't be so quick to disregard me."

She's right, Seto.

Now you choose to comment?

Let me show you.

Images of an ancient throne room filled with menacing, yet recognizable, monsters appeared in his mind's eye.

"Okay, let's say I believe you." Seto was willing to go along with this for now, at least. "Why does that matter?"

"You are familiar with Shadow Games." It wasn't a question, but her tone still implied that she required an answer.

The Shadow RPG he'd played with his friends on the Monster World diorama came to mind.

"Yes."

"Shadow Magic was used to summon monsters from the spirit world to our world in fight for sorcerers who sought power and rank. These monsters were powerful, the Shadow Games were dangerous, and they almost tore the world apart."

"The world, or the country?" Seto asked doubtfully.

"The country was the immediate threat," she acknowledged. "But the world would inevitably have been destroyed as well. The pharaohs commanded control of the most powerful of these monsters. Some of them you would recognize, like Exodia."

"Exodia The Forbidden One is the most powerful monster in all of Duel Monsters." The pieces of Ishizu's narrative were starting to fall into place. "Pegasus must have known that in order to make Duel Monsters in the first place." Ishizu nodded, smiling a little; he was as smart as she expected.

"Pegasus went to Egypt and was given the Millennium Eye by a spirit named Shadi. He is the keeper of the Millennium Key."

"The Millennium Key? How many Millennium Items are there?"

"Seven: the rod, the key, the necklace, the puzzle, the ring, the eye, and the scale."

"And they're all…?"

"Magical?" Ishizu's eyes sparkled in amusement as she recognized his reluctance to say the word. "Yes, but we can discuss those another time—"

"What about the Millennium Eye, though?" Seto interrupted. "When Pegasus died, was it buried with him?" This was a question he'd had ever since they heard the news that Pegasus was dead, but until now, he never thought he'd be able to get an answer to it.

Ishizu froze, suddenly looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Seto didn't know what had startled her, but he was willing to let her think and drink his coffee in the meantime.

"No," she answered at last. "No, the Millennium Eye was taken by his killer."

"So he was murdered." Seto hadn't truly believed the media story that he'd accidentally drowned in his pool while intoxicated; it just seemed too convenient, especially since their first story had reported suspicion of foul play. "Who has it?"

Ishizu opened her mouth, closed it again, and shook her head. "I don't know if I should tell you. I can't tell if it's better that I tell you now, or if I tell you later, or that you figure it out on your own." She closed her eyes and covered her face with one hand, starting to feel a headache coming on. "I never know how much to divulge or if I should act on what I know." A frustrated sigh escaped her lips. "I still blame myself for Kenji's injury," she admitted quietly. "There was a decent chance that he wouldn't come home at all, but if I was able to keep him alive, then I should have been able to keep him safe." Her hair fell down over her face as she propped her elbow on the table and closed her eyes.

Seto was surprised. Until now, Ishizu had presented as a calm and collected person, almost frighteningly perfect. Now, he could see quite clearly that her four more years of life experience hadn't given her all of life's answers. He was quiet for a few minutes as she struggled with herself.

"Making hard decisions is a painful inevitability in life," Seto commented quietly. "My home situation hasn't been stable for years. This spring, Kenji offered to let Mokuba stay with his family until I could make enough money to… to make a safer home for us. I turned him down, but I still wonder if it wouldn't have been better for him. For us." He'd never told anyone that before, and he wasn't entirely sure why he was telling her now. Maybe because she'd spent most of her life underground and she wouldn't judge him the way that other people might. Ishizu lifted her head a little to smile graciously at him.

"Thank you." She dropped her gaze, and Seto didn't even realize that he was going to pat her other hand until he was doing so, and his palm made contact with the warm back of her hand. After a moment, Ishizu turned her hand over to hold his in comfortable silence.

Seth, did you do that?

I'm quite certain that I have no idea what you're talking about, Seth answered innocently.

Like hell you don't. I don't need you interfering with my relationships, romantic or otherwise.

A small push in the right direction wouldn't hurt, Seth retorted remorselessly. I just want you to be happy.

"Pegasus was murdered by Noah Kaiba."

"What?" He was speechless.

"When he woke from his coma, he went to Pegasus' private island," Ishizu explained, her dark eyes suddenly sad. "He demanded that Pegasus give him the most powerful card in all of Duel Monsters. The three most powerful cards in the game were based off of the Ancient Egyptian god monsters: Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor, and the Winged Dragon of Ra. Months ago, however, Pegasus had entrusted them into my care. That's why the spirit, Shadi, appeared to me: to request my assistance in guarding them so that their power doesn't fall into the wrong hands. He led me to Pegasus and vice versa. That's when I met him, when he gave me the god cards."

"I'm guessing that didn't work, though, did it?" Seto was correct in his estimation, but that only made her failure sting that much more.

"I hid Slifer and Ra before we were discovered by the archaeological team, but Pegasus told Noah the location of my clan's… underground home before he died, so he found them and now has them in his possession. He's going to come after you, Seto." She was confident enough in the reality of the danger for her concern to be whole-hearted. "He wants revenge, and he plans to get it during the upcoming Battle City Tournament. That's why I want you to have this." She took the trading card from its resting place on her lap and placed it on the center of the table.

"That's… Obelisk the Tormentor." He looked back at her in astonishment. "You're giving this to me?"

"Yes. You'll need it if you're going to stand a chance against him. Besides, only certain individuals are capable of successfully wielding their power, and you're one of them."

"Is it because I have the Millennium Rod?"

"Not exactly. Your ancestry and your destiny determined your possession of both items."

Seto's eyes burned like flames, and Ishizu could only imagine what he was thinking.

"Who else can command the god cards?"

It wasn't the question she was expecting, but it was easier to answer.

"Your friend Yugi can, as the keeper of the Millennium Puzzle." Of that much, she was sure. "Marik and I probably could, given our heritage and knowledge of the ancient scriptures." Much of what she knew of the ancient scriptures she'd learned from Marik, though, just as Marik had taught her how to read.

"But not Rishid?"

"Marik is too good-hearted to have told you," Ishizu said with a rueful smile. "But Rishid was adopted before I was born. He isn't our brother by blood, and my father never treated him as a son."

"No, he never told us." Seto was genuinely surprised; he never would have guessed they weren't related, given that Marik had always spoken so fondly of both of them. Besides, Ishizu and Rishid looked most alike, so if he had to pick two of the three Ishtars that were blood relatives, he would have picked them. Marik was the genetic anomaly with his fair hair and pale eyes.

"Despite our hardships, he still seems so untouched by the darkness in our world." Ishizu sighed indulgently, taking on the expression of a doting parent: a mixture of pity and envy. "I suppose that means I have succeeded as his sister. Ever since our mother died, my father has been a hard man."

"Hard in what way?"

Ishizu bit her lip as she struggled with Japanese vocabulary. "He was strict, and he had high expectations that were difficult to achieve. I cannot recall him ever being affectionate, either."

"Cold and bitter," Seto added with a nod. "I know what you mean. Short-tempered, too?"

"He was often angry," she agreed, her eyes fell to where their joined hands still rested on the small table. "Anger leads to violence…"

"Violence leads to pain."

"Pain leads to resentment."

"Resentment leads to hatred."

Seto's perception of Ishizu—which was formed out of Seth's hazy memories and this conversation with her—took a turn for the familiar. She was protective of her little brother and had protected him from their wretched father.

"And I'm guessing you didn't want Marik to remember his father the way you do." He could definitely sympathize with that.

"Neither did Rishid, although he had more cause to hate him than I did." Ishizu drained the last of her tea. "Sometimes… we tell lies for someone's benefit, to protect them from the painful truth." To an outsider, that comment might seem like a non sequitur, but it made perfect sense to both of them. "I am not enamored with deception, but…"

"But when someone's that young, you want to save them from things they can't yet understand. That's what being an older sibling is about."

"And sometimes the best way to protect them is to fulfill your familial duty—"

"—Even when it hurts."

"Even when it hurts," Ishizu agreed.

Seto felt like he was looking into a warped mirror. She was a completely different person from entirely different circumstances in a totally different country, but their shared experiences were painfully similar. While he pitied her, he also took comfort in their similarities. Suddenly, Ishizu made him feel like he wasn't alone.

Of course he had friends and Mokuba, so he never felt truly lonely these days, but he often felt alone. Dr. Bakura and Joey knew some of his dirtiest secrets, but they still didn't know what it was like to make those decisions or to willingly put yourself through such physical, spiritual, and emotional torture.

Ishizu did.

Now he didn't resent Seth for holding hands with her.

"Should I tell the others about the god-cards?" Seto asked as they lingered in the museum lobby. "And about Noah Kaiba?"

"That's up to you. I don't see any harm in their knowing; I only see it doing them good, since he's more dangerous now than ever before."

"Even more dangerous than he was when he built Death-T?" Seto felt safe assuming she knew about Noah Kaiba's morbidly themed amusement park attraction if she was willing to make comparative statements like "more dangerous now than ever before."

"Yes, even more dangerous than that." Ishizu looked grim. "He must be stopped, and right now, you're the only one who can do that." She hesitated. "You will enter the Battle City Tournament, won't you?"

"I don't like the idea of taking more time off of work..." He was so close to having enough money to make the necessary two-month payment for a small apartment, and he didn't want to live at Joey's house any longer than necessary.

"The tournament is your only chance at stopping him." Ishizu's tone took on a sense of urgency that wasn't lost on him. "With each day that passes, he grows more powerful. If you don't go after him, he'll come after you." When Seto still looked reluctant, she dropped her gaze and added quietly, "He's threatened your brother before, hasn't he?" Seto's eyes widened with shock; he hadn't thought of that before. "Noah Kaiba often speaks for its own sake, but those threats weren't empty."

"I guess I don't have much choice then." If offense was the best form of defense, then he would need to enter the tournament in order to go after Noah. The tournament hadn't been announced yet, but it would be soon, and he planned on registering as soon as he could.

"Good luck."

"Thanks." There was so much more that he wanted to know, that he wanted to ask her, but his lunch hour was almost over and he needed to get back to work. "We should meet again some time."

"I would like that." She smiled, and it was sincere. Seto doubted that Ishizu was capable of faking emotions at all, given that her face was so candidly expressive. Or maybe she was just as good of a liar as he was.

A/N: Going to a coffee shop is basically my only idea for what a date looks like, so if it seems like I use that too often in my stories, it's because that's the closest thing to a date that I've ever had. #SingleProblems #ForeverAlone

I'm gonna start picking up the pace in the next chapter, so beware, the drama will begin shortly.