Chapter 10: New Beginnings

The ship that carried everyone who were invited to Duelist Kingdom was about to reach its final stop. The city of Domino. Most of the people on board the ship were either asleep in their rooms or talking about the strange events that happened at the party. Most people actually expected something like tonight was going to happen, after all it was Pegasus who was hosting the party. Some people were on deck walking around or either admiring the starlit sky and the full moon reflecting on the ocean. (I'm glad everything is back to normal.) Yugi thought. (Are you sure about that, Yugi?) Yami asked. (What do you mean? There's nothing to be worried about now, unless of course you're worried about that strange object that looked exactly like the millennium puzzle.) Yugi answered. (There seemed to be some sort of ancient force within that object. It feels as though there will be another threat to this world.) Yami told him. (Whatever it is we'll face it together and win.) Yugi said courageously. (Right. You have come a long way, Yugi.) Yami said.

Yugi was about to walk back to his room when he noticed Katrina standing on the other side of deck. Yugi walked up to her and asked, "Hey Katrina, what are you doing here all alone?" Katrina looked at Yugi and answered, "I was about to ask you the same question." "So why are you here?" Yugi asked again. "Just thinking about something or rather someone." Katrina answered. "Could that someone be Leona?" Yugi asked her. Katrina looked at Yugi a little surprised and then smiled. "I guess we have known each other long enough to know what the other is thinking." Katrina said.

"I know how you feel. You have the right to worry about Leona. We all are. She's been through so much, but she'll be fine." Yugi said trying to cheer Katrina up. "You don't even know the half of it." Katrina said. Yugi looked at Katrina confused. "What do you mean?" Yugi asked. Katrina looked at Yugi and then shook her head. "Never mind…… its nothing." Katrina answered quickly. "Well I better get back to my room. Blossom's probably wondering where I am." Katrina said. Katrina walked away from Yugi, but then suddenly felt someone's hand grab onto her arm. Katrina turned around and saw Yami. "I know what happened to Leona tonight, Katrina. You don't have to hide it from me." Yami told her. Katrina remained silent as Yami let go of her and he continued speaking.

"I understand how angry and upset you feel inside because of what Marik's darker side did to your best friend." Yami finished. Katrina just stared at Yami in surprise. "You know? But how?" Katrina asked in surprise. "From the sad and frightened expression on Leona's face. I knew something terrible happened to her, but I couldn't believe it was what Marik's darker side did to her. She must be hurting deeply inside." Yami answered. "Wait a minute. If you know what happened to Leona that means Yugi knows. And if Yugi knows the others know. Way to go Katrina, can't even keep a secret. Leona's gonna kill me." Katrina said. Yami smiled and told her, "Yugi doesn't know." Katrina was shocked and she asked, "He doesn't?" "There are some things we keep from each other. Even though our bond is connected by the millennium puzzle that doesn't mean our mind and body are." Yami answered her. Katrina smiled. "That's a relief. So I guess it's just you, Blossom, myself and of course Kaiba who knows what exactly happened to Leona tonight. I just hope she'll be ok." Katrina said worried. Yami smiled at Katrina and told her, "With friends like you and Blossom, she'll be fine." Katrina smiled back at him. "Thanks Yami." Katrina said and hugged Yami in a friendly embrace.

Leona tossed and turned and quickly sat up on the bed. Her face was sweating and she was breathing heavily. She put her hand on her forehead. "Not again." Leona whispered. (That's the third nightmare I had tonight and each time it gets worse.) Leona thought. She got out of bed and walked over to the full length mirror that was in the room. She took off the cape that was wrapped around her costume. She looked at her ripped outfit and was being reminded of what happened to her tonight.

Leona fell to her knees and hugged herself. Instantly tears started to come out of her eyes as she silently cried. "Why can't make this go away?" Leona whispered to herself as she continued to cry. She suddenly two comforting hands on her shoulders. Leona turned around and saw Kaiba. "Seto…… sorry I woke you." Leona said as she wiped away her tears. "You don't need to apologize, I wasn't asleep. I was too busy thinking." Kaiba told her. "About what?" Leona asked. "About you." Kaiba simply answered. Leona stood up and told him, "I'm fine Seto, really I am." Leona knew that Kaiba didn't believe her. He knew how much she was hurting inside and he wanted to see her smile again instead of being in so much pain.

"If you need to talk you know you can tell me anything, Leona." Kaiba told her. "I know Seto….I can't get what Marik's darker side did to me out of my head. Every time I close my eyes I see the same haunting images over and over." Leona said as fresh new tears threatened to fall out of her eyes. "And what if there's something wrong with me. I'm afraid that……that you might not………love me anymore." Leona told Kaiba as she looked at him and started to cry again. Kaiba hugged Leona and held her close to him. "No matter what happens I will always love you." Kaiba told her. "You're just saying that to make me feel better." Leona told him.

Kaiba lifted Leona's chin with his hand and wiped away her tears. "Leona I meant what I said. We've been together since high school and we've been through so much together. Trust me I won't stop loving you. You're the only woman I will ever love." Kaiba said to her. Leona finally smiled at him and he smiled back at her. She leaned over to kiss Kaiba. Just as they were about to kiss, the door opened. "Wheeler don't you knock before coming into a room!" Kaiba yelled at Joey. "Gees Kaiba sorry. I was just gonna tell ya that we're gonna be leaving the ship." Joey said. Then Joey looked at Leona and was really shocked.

"Leona, what happened to your costume?" Joey asked. "Joey it's nothing really." Leona just answered. "It doesn't look like nohin' to me. Your costume is nearly torn apart. Is that why you've been so upset?" Joey asked. Before Leona could answer Mai came in. "What's taking so long, Joey?" Mai asked and saw Leona. "Leona, your costume it's torn apart." Mai said. "That's why she's been so upset, Mai." Joey told her. Mai walked up to Leona and noticed all the bruises on her arms and legs. Mai gasped in shock and placed her over her mouth. "Mai what's wrong?" Joey asked in concern. It took a moment for Mai to regain control of her senses.
Mai looked at Leona and asked, "Leona, did someone…….. "That's enough." Kaiba stopped Mai from saying anything further. "Please Mai. I don't want anyone else to know." Leona told her. Mai nodded. "I understand, but I can't believe you kept this from us all this time." Mai said. "Did I miss somethin'!?" Joey asked confused and annoyed. Mai turned around and yelled, "You ding-dong someone raped her!"

The others walked inside the room just as Mai said that. "Leona is that why you've so upset?" Yugi asked. Leona just nodded. "Leona I'm so sorry I yelled it out like that." Mai said. "It's alright Mai. The others were going to know eventually." Leona told her. "So who did it?" Tea asked. "Marik's darker side." Katrina answered. "Wait you knew about this?" Yugi asked. "Yea….well actually Katrina, Kaiba, and I knew." Blossom answered. "I can't believe Marik did that! And we just let him escape just like that! If this happened to Mai I would've knocked him out permanently. I can't believe you let him get away with that Kaiba!" Joey yelled.

Kaiba started at Joey angrily and said, "Maybe I should use you as a replacement for Marik and pound your head into the ground, Wheeler!" "I'm sooooo scared." Joey teased. Before this continued any further Tea said, "Alright you two that's enough. Come one we're friends now. Let's not fight. Besides we don't want to wake up the kids." Everyone saw Aiko, Aaron, and Melissa asleep next to the door way. Leona walked up to Melissa and picked her up. (At least you don't know what happened to me, Melissa. I'm so sorry for putting you through all this. Hopefully you won't have to go through what I gone through.) Leona though and kissed her daughter on the forehead. Tea and Mai picked up their kids and everyone headed out of the door and got off the ship.

Everyone walked to Domino hospital since there were no buses or taxis at two in the morning and Kaiba's limo driver wasn't available. It was an hour walk from the pier when everyone saw the hospital come into view. Inside the hospital there weren't many people working and there weren't many patients either. Leona slowly walked up to the reception desk. "Excuse me." Leona said since the nurse was facing the other direction. The nurse turned around and everyone was surprised. "Serenity? Hey sis what are ya doin workin' here?" Joey asked really surprised.

"Hi everyone. It's been a while hasn't it. I got this new offer to work at this hospital for a little while." Serenity said cheerfully as she came out her office and hugged her brother and friends. "Where's Tristan?" Mai asked. "He's in one of the recovery rooms. He sort of sprained his ankle." Serenity answered. "Being a professional race car driver is dangerous." Katrina said. "No, he just slammed his ankle on his race car door. He's so clumsy." Serenity explained and everyone started laughing. "So what brings all of you here?" Serenity asked. "Well we sort had a really big problem today." Yugi said trying to explain what happened.

After a really long explanation Serenity was too shocked and speechless to say anything. She found out one of her closest friends was seriously hurt. "I know it will take you a while for you to recover from what happened today, Leona." Serenity said. Leona didn't say anything and just looked at the floor. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up and have the doctors do an emergency test on you." Serenity told Leona as she took her hand and led her into an empty room. All everyone could do now is wait and pray.

After two long hours Leona and Serenity came out of the emergency room. Leona's costume was placed in a hospital bag, so she had to wear a hospital gown and white pants since there was nothing else to wear. "Leona are you going to be ok?" Katrina asked. "We'll found out in a couple of minutes." Leona answered her friend. "The doctors are examining the test results now." Serenity explained. Leona quietly sat down next to her family and friends. Everyone suddenly heard a loud crash coming from one of the recovery rooms. "Serenity, could you come here! I need some help!" Tristan's voice yelled. Serenity rolled her eyes and got up. "I thought I told him not to move while he was in a cast." Serenity said.

As Serenity left a doctor came into the waiting room. Everyone stood up. "Well Mrs. Kaiba after the examination, the results say that there is nothing wrong with you." The doctor told Leona. Leona smiled and everyone cheered with happiness. "See you had nothing to worry about Leona." Yugi said to her. "Not many women are lucky enough to be perfectly normal after being raped. There must be someone watching you in the heavens." The doctor told her and left. "I can't believe I'm fine. The doctor was right I am lucky. Thanks for everything you guys. We might as well go home." Leona said to her friends. Everyone headed out of the hospital and went their separate ways.

Everyone arrived home safely. Everything was back to normal. At the Kaiba mansion, Mokuba put Melissa to bed while everyone else was getting ready for bed. Leona was checking the day's mail. Nothing except for a couple of bills, but there was one letter that surprised Leona. (Domino Orphanage? Did they accept my approval of adopting Terry? With everything that's been going on I completely forgot all about him.) Leona thought as she started to read the letter. After Leona read the letter she smiled and thought (It looks like we're going to have another addition in the family. I wonder what Seto will say.) Leona put the letter away and went to her bedroom.

Leona arrived to her bedroom and saw Kaiba sitting on the bed. (Here goes?) Leona thought a little nervous. "Seto, remember I told you I was sponsoring a little boy at the Domino Orphanage to help publish my books a year ago?" Leona asked. "Of course I remember how can I forget. That's the same orphanage where Mokuba and I were staying in before we were adopted." Kaiba answered. "Well, the orphanage sort of gave me custody over the boy." Leona told him. "What?" Kaiba asked in a more serious tone. Leona was about to say something, but Kaiba cut her off by saying, "So we have another mouth to feed in the family." Leona just nodded. Kaiba walked up to her and kissed her. "I couldn't be any happier." Kaiba said to her.

Leona looked at Kaiba really surprised. "You're not mad?" Leona asked. "Mad? Why would I be mad?" Kaiba asked her. "Because I thought if were to adopt a child, it would bring back all those painful memories of when you were adopted." Leona answered a little sad. Kaiba smiled at her. "That was a long time ago. I've forgotten all those painful memories of my childhood. These memories disappeared the moment I met you. Besides I want our adopted to be happy and carefree not like m……" Leona put her hand on Kaiba's lips and smiled. "Seto, just shut up and kiss me." Leona told him as she let go and smiled. Kaiba kissed her passionately. Nothing could ever ruin their happiness or anyone else's.

Somewhere in Domino, a dark cloud of energy was seeping into the city's sky. "I've finally awakened after 5,000 years. The pharaoh and his pathetic friends may have stopped me years ago, but they won't be so lucky. I will have my long awaited revenge. HA-HA-HA!!!"

THE END

Author's Note: Well my story is finally completed. I might put a part four to this story. Some of the events for the next story will be from the Yu-Gi-Oh! movie. So if you haven't seen it yet the next story will be kind of a spoiler. That's all for now. Read & Review.