"Did you get it?" I yawned as I sat back into my chair.

"Yes sir." Standing before me was Tristan Taylor, the only one of the dweeb patrol that seemed to get it right in life. "Can I ask why you needed his signature so badly?"

He stepped forward, setting the paper down on my desk. He clearly didn't read the form, just as I had instructed. All that mattered is that Fujiyama actually signed off on the waver.

"It's for Kisara..." That's all I wanted to admit. "He forced them to combine their bank accounts, so she has no assets of her own. This, removes that bind."

"So you separated their accounts?" He was usually quite clever.

I sighed. "I had him sign over the money that was put into the account by Kisara when they first opened it, as well as any money deposited from Kisara working as an official Kaiba Corporation employee. So she's just getting back what money was originally hers."

Tristan seemed relieved. "Thank God. I thought you were stealing money from him for a minute there."

"As if there would be any need for that." I picked up the page, rolling my chair over to the fax machine and punching in the numbers for the bank where I had set up a separate account for Kisara. "If she'd accept it, I'd give her what ever money she wants… But she's actually very independent."

Why did I bother telling him this?

"You must really care about her." His tone was friendly, which was weird to me. "You know, I'm happy you found her in this life.

"Enough with that." I placed the page into the fax scanner, pressing send. "She's not the reincarnation of that peasant girl from thousands of years ago. She's an entirely different person."

Though, even I was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that she actually was that woman from the past. From the mark on her body to the nightmares that haunt me—I couldn't deny at this point there was a connection. Even she had the dreams of the past, but only to an extent.

"Either way, I'm happy for you." Tristan averted his eyes and scratched the back of his neck. "No offense, but you haven't been the greatest person in the world… But I think she's really brought out the best in you. Not that much has actually changed. But… just the atmosphere around you feels less cynical."

"Harsh." I chuckled.

Of the dweeb patrol, at least he was decent to be around. I wouldn't call him on a random day to get a beer with him or anything. But I can tolerate his presence when he's not accompanied by the mutt and the preaching brunette. And of course, I can't stand Yugi. The sight of him reminds me of my constant failures. Not only in dueling, but every time he would defeat a blue eyes white dragon… It haunts me now.

"My bad, sir." Tristan apologized for his prior comment.

I shook my head. "No worries. I get it."

The fax finished, and I removed the form from the paper tray, turning back to my desk and opening a drawer. I slid the paper in and closed the drawer. One thing down, and a million other things to do.

"So, what now?" Tristan asked.

I rose a brow, "About what?"

"Things with Kisara, I guess?" He seemed confused about what he was actually asking. "Is this going to be enough for her to move out? I know she was looking for a place to go, last I heard from Miho and Serenity."

It still was shocking to me that she spoke to anyone in the group that had always been the bane of my existence. It was even more strange to me that they even knew of the illusion that was Kisara's past. I had never thought to ask the group before how they knew of her. Wasn't her existence only shown to me?

"Her housing arrangements are taken care of, and her future housing is underway as well..." Though I would rather her stay with me, I want to give her that home she's been searching for… "Tristan… How is it that you know of Kisara? From that trickery?"

He seemed taken aback by the question. "I wouldn't really call it a trick… But when we were thrown into the past as spirits, we were trying to find a way into the palace. There was this other spirit, Bobasa, who was able to touch objects that we would faze through. Joey and I chased after him when he had eaten the food we were finally able to grab. That's when we stumbled upon her—being stoned by the villagers just outside the palace walls. Your past self split through the crowd and threatened the others to leave or be imprisoned as you took her away. That's about it. Honestly, we didn't know what to think of it from there… But after meeting her in this life, it just felt like you two were meant to meet. I never knew on what grounds, but I'm happy for the turn out."

The turn out? He has no clue how things are for us. "You mean that she works for me?"

Tristan chuckled. "No, not like that. That you two are… Well, friends as Kisara put it. No one expected to see the day where Seto Kaiba was considered a friend to anyone by choice."

"By choice?" I rose a brow before rolling my eyes. "Right. Yugi considers us friends."

"We all do. Except Joey." He laughed, even getting a chuckle out of me.

That's when my phone began to buzz in my pocket. My personal phone? There was no tone playing from it.

"You're the only one of that group who I'd consider close to a friend, but I still find you to be a colleague. The others, unfortunate acquaintances. And Yugi, of course, my rival." I explained, pulling the phone from my pocket.

Oddly enough, the number was Mokuba's, but it wasn't showing up under his name. This was completely odd to me. Tristan was about to speak again, but I rose my index finger to him, instructing him to wait. I swiped the screen to answer the call and put the phone to my ear.

"Moku—" And quickly I jerked the phone away, as the only sound I could hear was static.

For a moment, I just stared at the phone, listening to the static as I held the phone a few inches from my face. After a few passing moments, I could faintly hear out of focus voices in the back. I couldn't make out any words, but there was definitely something there.

I tried calling out to Mokuba again, hoping this time that he would answer me back. That's when the static finally cut out, leaving silence on the line. After a minute of waiting for a response, I was about to end the call, and dial him up from my end. But finally, a clear voice came through.

"Seto!" It was slightly distorted, almost robotic. "Finally! I patched through!"

I was slightly confused. "You're not Mokuba? Who are you?"

"Shall I get with your Security team to dispatch someone to him?" Tristan asked quickly, assuming it was another kidnapping.

I shook my head as the voice responded, this time more clear. I knew this voice. I knew him very well. "I don't have time to explain. Mokuba and Kisara need your help! He ordered me to call you, but I also patched through to the police. I don't think the recording got through though—I'm off topic! Seto! Hurry up and get to them! I'm guessing that guy is Fujiyama, and that he's beating the crap out of Mokuba!"

"Tristan, call the cops and send them to the Fujiyama mansion." I stood quickly, grabbing my keys off the desk. "Noah, I'm on my way there now. Can you put me through to where I can hear what's going on?"

He was quiet for a moment, as I quickly ran out of my office, not caring that I left it open and unintentionally leaving Tristan to lock up everything. I ignored anyone who tried to stop me, and even pushed aside a few advisers as I made my way to the elevator.

"You might not like what you hear…" Noah was honest. "Mokuba's unconscious… And Kisara was screaming before..."

"Noah, I don't give a fuck. I don't even know how the hell you are alive and reaching me with Mokuba's phone. I don't fully believe anything you have to say to me. So if something is actually happening, I need to hear it for myself." The elevator wasn't dropping fast enough.

Again, there was a moment of silence. Static followed once more, but not lasting more than fifteen seconds. I didn't hear any screams though, but I did hear Fujiyama and Kisara's voices.

"The fuck is this?" He tightly held my wrists down with one hand, sitting atop my waist as he had ripped open my blouse.

He stared down at my body, disgust in his eyes. I kept my head turned away, trying to see past my tears. My head hurt. My jaw hurt. It reminded me of that woman—when Lucina had attacked me in her rage. She was a better fit for Kojiro than I ever was. She should be here, getting assaulted in my place. She deserves this… not me.

Kojiro reached forward, grabbing my face and pulling me to look at him. I winced and shut my eyes tightly.

"I'll ask again—what the fuck is this?" He let go of my face and pressed his finger down onto the top of my birthmark.

I took a few deep breaths, "My b—birthmark."

"Birthmark?" He sounded so displeased. He loosened his grip and leaned back a bit. "A birthmark, really? This… deformity. You really consider this a birthmark?"

I didn't know what hurt more at this point—the physical abuse or the mental. "Call it what ever you want… I—I don't care anymore..."

"How… impure. How… hideous. How can someone with such a powerful soul and a beautiful light be this repulsive?" It was like he took the words from the darkest parts of my mind and threw them at me with a blunt force. "Why did you hide this from me for so long?"

He reached forward, pulling up my bra. I shut my eyes tighter as he grabbed my breast with his free hand. He groped it tightly, even digging his nails into the skin. I bit down on my bottom lip, trying not to cry more. This didn't feel good. This didn't feel anything like how Seto touched me.

"Answer me!" He let go and forcefully backhanded my face.

It was a loud hit, and I gasped for a breath as I felt the stinging settle in. I could taste blood at this point. Biting my lip isn't a good decision in this circumstance. "I—I didn't… I didn't… Want you to leave… because of my imperfection."

That was before I knew the truth… Before I knew you were a womanizer. Before I learned how sleazy you are. Before I caught you sleeping around. I truly blamed myself. I never blamed you. I was afraid of confronting you. I was afraid of losing the only person in this world who gave me a tiny shred of feeling loved.

I let myself be hurt by you… Which made wanting to leave you all the easier. And yet… I still wore my mask around you, pretending everything was alright. Pretending I wasn't falling for another man. For a moment, I was no better than you. However, there will always be a difference between us…

I gave myself to the man I love. And you… you only want a woman's flesh. You only want to be desired with nothing to reciprocate. There are lovers, and there are liars. And we both know where you and I lie.

"If you were so afraid of losing me, than why did you decide to leave me in the end? And for that brat who can't even hold his own?" His hand returned to my breast, massaging it as his other hand tightened around my wrists once more.

I felt my hands going numb, getting that feeling when your limbs fall asleep from losing circulation. "You were constantly sleeping around… You—you didn't care about me. You lied about l—loving me. I could tell it in your voice."

For a moment, everything fell still. Silence took over the room. He even let go of my wrists and slouched over top of me. He grabbed his tie, pulling it off and holding it in his hand at my side and began to unbutton his own shirt.

"You know, I tried to get you to sleep with me. Countless times. I wanted to show you that I loved you." Was the sorrow in his voice real? Or another trick? "You constantly pushed me aside, so I filled the void with other women. It's hard not to sleep around when the urges won't go away… But I've never asked to take someone's hand in marriage. No woman was worthy until you."

This is all lies. More lies he's trying to use to win me over.

"Your innocence. Your light… Your power… Your soul..." His voice began to hiss. "You have no idea what your soul is worth to me..."

Why is he speaking of me like this? I've had no power since the day I met him… I don't know what he means by my light and my soul. I don't know this man… I don't know the Kojiro who is holding me down and stripping me of my self worth. I don't know this man who claims that I'm worthy of him, and forcing himself over me.

"But had I known you were… SO broken. Completely torn above it, I would have found the other blue eyed, pale women." His words stung.

I kept my eyes closed, and they shook behind my eyelids. I felt the tears draining down my face. Even Though Kojiro was still talking, saying words that I wasn't understanding—I blocked out his voice. Everything was just mumbles and sounds. I somehow managed to go numb to his touch, even though I felt cold and covered with chills.

"Get your filthy hands off of her!" I suddenly hear, the voice sounding muffled.

Kojiro had slid his hands down to my hips, nails digging into my skin before he turned to look over his shoulder. I, too, looked to the doorway, searching to see who had called out. No one was there…

"If you dare to lay so much as a finger on her, I won't hesitate to destroy everything you hold dear!" The voice was still muffled, but it was definitely within the room.

"Kaiba?" Kojiro stopped straddling me, climbing off of the bed and walking over to Mokuba. "Don't tell me you're conscious? Haven't you learned?"

For a moment, there was more silence. This was my chance—I had to think quickly. But I had to keep quiet too. I quietly stumbled to the side of the bed, looking around for something. Anything.

"What did you do to Mokuba?" My concentration was broken as I realized that this voice was Seto.

As I looked back over to Mokuba, I could see Kojiro, staring over his shoulder at me. I froze up, knowing that he was aware of what ever I was doing. But he averted his gaze back to Mokuba, and used his foot to push him, rolling him from lying on his stomach to his back. On the floor lied his phone, that was lit up and on speaker.

"Your brother's just taking a little nap." Kojiro crouched down, grabbing the phone and taking it off of speaker before pressing it to his ear. "He tried to… interfere with the conversation I was having with my fiance."

I could no longer hear what Seto was saying on the other side. Kojiro stood back up, walking over to the bedroom door and shutting it. How had I not noticed that he had left it open? Why weren't the other maids doing anything? I heard the door latch as he locked it. Without another moment of thought, I reached down, rummaging through anything that had fallen onto the floor when the nightstand had crashed down with me.

But the only thing I could manage to grab before Kojiro turned back around to me was the ballpoint pen that I had used to write the letter I had written as our goodbye.

"Ah, so it was you. I didn't think the younger Kaiba had it in him to steal away someone's future wife." I was only hearing his side of the argument. "But a fuck boy like you shouldn't have any issues, am I right?"

I managed to tuck the pen under the pillow before Kojiro made his way back to the side of the bed, standing between Mokuba and myself once more. He just stared down at me. My hair fell over my face as I glared back through the strands. I dug my fingers into the sheets to clench a fist.

"And why should I expect any different from you?" Kojiro continued on. "You stole her from me once before—I should have known it wouldn't be any different this time around."

What? What does he mean by that?

"Oh—you mean you don't remember?" The smirk on his face was utterly terrifying. "Come now, that can't be the case… We have a little friend in common. Does a miss Ishizu Ishtar ring any bells? Or, perhaps you even knew her once as Isis?"

Ishizu… Ishtar? Isis? Is… that the woman that Mokuba had told me about?

"No, no Mr. Kaiba." Fujiyama laughed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You see, it was her Millennium necklace that allowed me to see the visions of the past. So trust me, I know some of the history you two shared. Like how you freed my prisoner before I could extract her soul."

My chest began to hurt. My heart began to pound. My breath suddenly began to burn. Why did this all sound so familiar, and yet, make no sense at all?

Kojiro grabbed me by my chin, pulling me up to look him in the eyes. "You know, her light is so powerful. The blue in her eyes glow so brightly, but she can't do anything within these walls. The same stone that trapped her is what I used to fence in the mansion. Limestone is a powerful thing to the ancients."

"S—stone?" The stone that trapped me?

"Honestly, you should be thanking me Kaiba." He rubbed his thumb on my cheek, brushing aside some of my hair. "If it weren't for me, your little dragon girl wouldn't have been reborn into this life."

I shook my head out of his hand and pushed myself backwards, further towards the middle of the bed. Kojiro chuckled. He was amused with my reactions, and probably what ever Seto had to say further amused him.

"Well, that's a story I'll just keep to myself. I mean, it's not like you would believe me anyway. You still haven't accepted that the past you've seen was true. Too bad you can't remember the things I've seen." He just kept speaking of things I still couldn't understand. "And you're your own fault she was born with this hideous mark on her body."

"D—don't..." I didn't want Seto to know how he was seeing me… but I couldn't bring myself to speak out.

"If you had just died the way you were supposed to back then, she could have been perfect in her reincarnation."

My head started to hurt and I began to feel dizzy. For a moment, the vision of my dreams from years ago flickered in my head.

I was running again. Running through the sand, tattered clothes that barely fit me, long unruly hair flailing with every stride. The stone stairs off in the distance of the ruins where I'd find Seto at the top. But the sunlight always blinded my eyes before I could reach him.

I blinked the images away as my head began to pulsate. I pressed the palm of my hand to my forehead, tightly shutting my eyes. But the longer they were shut, the more I'd see of those dreams.

A young Seto picked the lock of the carriage I had been caged in. He held his hand out to me, like he always did in this dream. "Come with me." He'd request, staring me in the eyes. I'd hesitate before I'd reach forward, gently placing my hand in his. He'd guide me, holding me gently for a moment to calm my shakes before we were spotted by the bandit on patrol.

"Oh really? And what do you propose would make a good compromise?" Kojiro turned away from me.

I lied on the ground, the cold stone beneath me. The night time air grazing my face, though my stomach and chest felt warm. A white cloak lie strung across my body, stained in red. I try to reach for my stomach, but all of my fragile strength is gone. I try to call out, but my voice has faded.

Wait… this vision is new.

"And you take me for a fool? Do you honestly think I'd settle things over a god damn card game?"

Seto was… willing to duel again? For my sake? Oh Kojiro… if only you knew what all that truly meant to him… And what that truly means to me.

"SETO!" I suddenly can hear my own voice, screaming out his name. I've heard this scream so many times, but the light is always forbidding me from seeing what was happening.

But this time, I lived it. His silhouette was just before me, turning just as I pull him back and jump in front of him. Seto tried to call out to me as I held my arms out to the sides, trying to block him as much as possible from what ever was coming at us. And just as it hit me in the dream, I could feel it overtaking my body as I watched. What ever the dark mass was, it had impaled me.

As my chest bursts open, I fly back forcefully into Seto's arms. Blood splatters on my face as my entire body falls limp. He can barely hold me as we stumble back to the ground.

The roar of a blue eyes white dragon cries, and I feel myself slipping away. This pain… it is unlike anything I've ever felt.

"Kisara?!" Mokuba is calling for me. "Kisara, your eyes!"

But I can't breathe.

I can taste the blood. Everything is white. Seto is nothing more than a hazy blur. I can just barely see the shape where his face should be. I summon the last of my strength to raise my hand to his cheek. "Seto..." I whisper his name, before everything goes dark and I am no more…

I've felt death before. I know this now.

I cannot breathe as I cry out. I grab the sides of my head, pushing my hands together as if I'm trying to squash my own head. I want to scream, but there's no voice. My lungs are burning. My stomach is in knots.

Oh god, were those dreams real?

"Kisara!" Mokuba is calling to me, shaking me. "Kisara! Kisara!"

I can't focus. The visions are all I can see.

I turn over, to my side, but just barely. I am alone, lying in a pool of my own blood. I try to stand, but I can't bring myself to my feet. I roll to my stomach, my body burning as I fall against the stone ground. I know that I shouldn't be alive… But I am.

I start to crawl, pulling myself with my arms. It's a slow process, but I just make it to the stairs. I can't see past the darkness of the night. I try to reach forward, but I just can't any more.

"Seto..." I manage to cry out…

I can hear the footsteps, approaching from behind me.

"Do you seek a second chance?" I don't know this voice. It is deep, and I feel… blessed to be within his presence.

As I try to look back, all I can see is light.

"Kisara..." I can hear Seto, whispering to me. "It's over now… Okay?"

And the visions stop. I return to reality. I don't know where I am. I don't know how long I had been gone. I don't know what had happened to me. I don't know if I'm truly myself anymore. Those dreams. Those nightmares. I know now. I know they were real.

But… who offered me a second chance?

I blink a few times, adjusting to the world I see before me. "S—Seto..."

"Breathe..." He begins to coach me. "Deep breath through your nose. Exhale through your mouth."

But I can't focus right now. "Seto!"

I throw myself forward at him, crying out his name, over and over again. I don't know how he reacted as I bury my face into his knees, and tightly grab hold of his shirt. And I just fall apart, every part of me breaking down and crying harder than I ever had before. I weep and sob with every ounce that I have in me. Gently, he rubs my back and put his hand on the back of my head.

"I'm sorry I was late… That won't happen again." Seto hushes me. "You're safe now."

I look around the room, so many things are broken. The door is busted in. Kojiro's sister standing in the door way, arms crossed as she shakes her head. Her personal butler, is tending to Mokuba's wounds. Kojiro is handcuffed, bleeding from his shoulder, his face bruised and beaten, and he is escorted away by the police. I sit on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a towel while Seto grabs me some clothes from one of the boxes Mokuba and I had packed up.

There's chatter among the halls. I hear the whispers within the room, but I don't know the words they speak. As I am handed clothes, the silence is broken by the sound of Momoka entering the room, shouting out to me.

"Kisara! You're okay!" She lunges forward, wrapping her arms around me and nearly knocking me back. "I came as soon as I heard! I should have been here to help! I'm so so sorry!"

I don't speak. I don't know what to say. Everything blanked out for me. I don't even know what happened.

"She did fine." Seto reassured her. "She's in shock right now though..."

Momoka quickly let go, and looked me in the eyes. But I couldn't look back, not at that moment.

"You really stabbed him with that pen?" She was so curious. "I didn't think it was that sharp."

"I pushed it in deeper..." Mokuba added in.

She quickly turned to him as he waved at her. She jumped over, now checking up on him.

I felt the bed sink in next to me, as Seto sat beside me. I didn't have a clue what to say. I didn't know at all how I should be feeling. I felt like I had amnesia, but I knew everything too. I just blocked out whatever had happened in the room while I was… dreaming.

"Did he..." Seto tried to ask, but couldn't finish his question.

I stared down at my thighs. I wasn't wearing any clothes when I finally could see. But I don't feel like I had just done anything sexual.

"I don't think so..." I answered. "But I don't know..."

It was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "I should have killed him…"

I shook my head. "No… then we couldn't be together again..."

He seemed to understand what I was talking about. "I won't let us be apart ever again…" Seto turned to me, placing his hand over my own. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner. I won't let that happen ever again. I won't let any harm come to you, I swear."

Slowly, I look over to him. Though I was lethargic, I still felt just as passionate for him in every sense of the word. "I would die a thousand times for you, Seto."

His eyes opened wide. "You… saw it?"

"I was never meant to exist in this world… but for you, I'll always find a way." I feel like the words just formed without thought. Like a part of me I hadn't known deep inside had awakened, and I was finally finding the person I've loved longer than I ever knew.

I understand now… The woman Mokuba spoke of before… Was me. The woman who died for Seto, was just who I was thousands of years ago. And I'd do it again and again. I was never meant to live an easy life… But Seto made it easier. Seto made me want to continue to press on.

Like when I summoned my own soul to save us in that prison, where we nearly fell to the shadows. Like the time I crossed the desert for him. And even when I had died, I still somehow gathered the strength to try and crawl back to him…

Who was that man in my vision?

"Seto… I—" before I could say another word, I was silenced with a kiss.

I didn't care who was around. We didn't care who saw. I didn't mind the towel nearly falling off my shoulders as I reached up, placing my hands on his cheeks as he cupped his hand on the side of my face. His hand was warm on my cold skin. I felt a tear escape my eye.

I finally get to be with you.