Hidden Hearts: the Meeting of two Hearts Part 1

I wrote this about 2 years ago, and haven't brought it out until now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh nor do I not own any of the characters if you would please note that this story is all for fun and to expand something of everyone who reads it, mainly imaginations and also to have fun with it. I also did not ask to use these characters for this story; it has all owned and copyrighted by other people

Author's Note: This chapter is mostly about the time of Seto and Mokuba, back when they were living with Gosaburo Kaiba. For those of you that have seen the Virtual arc know what I am talking about, you know the moment Mokuba saved Seto in a special brotherly way. How Mokuba gave his big brother inspiration to work hard and take over Kaiba Corp. I have changed it a little, but you will see please enjoy my very first fan fiction ever written but not published until now. Most of these chapters do flashbacks sadly I didn't note were one ends however I always say where they begin. ENJOY

I will be following the anime some of the Manga from the series and the English character names, easier on my computer and hands also one last thing this is an alternate universe so there will be changes on how Seto gets his dragon but you will have to read and find out. I have also added some new characters to the story, Gosaburo's brother Jake, Pegasus dead wife's Sister Ann, and two girls; I will let everyone figure out the rest. ENJOY

The Two Meet

Nine Years ago

It was a sunny day at the Kaiba Mansion where a black limo pulled up to a tall black spiked gate. Hobson, a butler also a small fat man, stepped out to open the door and welcome the two boys to their new home.

The tallest boy was, Seto, followed by a smaller boy, Mokuba. A figure watched as their things were unpacked from the limo, and as the figure watched, she saw that one was about the same age as her dead cousin, which she had been the soul responsible for his so-called, "freak accident." The figure was a girl around the age of 12, tall, skinny, sky blue hair that went down to the middle of her back; she was wearing a navy color skirt and a small black blouse.

As she watched, she did not notice her evil uncle looming behind her, "WHAT do you think your doing?" he suddenly spoke, causing the girl to jump. "Nothing, Uncle Gosaburo," she replied, "Just watching Hobson brings in my new step cousins up to the mansion. You are probably going to tell me to forget socializing with the tall one and the short one is just a leverage, to make the older one work. Yes, I know stay away from them and will not let them know that I exist, I promise Uncle. I will like a ghost," she answered before her uncle spook.

She knew her Uncle well enough by now to follow his orders and that being she had just been raised by him for the last 6 years, she knew almost everything he was going to say to her before he said it. Gosaburo Kaiba then walked out of the room without so much as a nod to the girl and just a "hump," sound came from him and he shut the door

Nine years later Present Day

Seto Kaiba was sitting at his desk thinking about how to get Kaiba Corp. stock back up to where it was before he first lost to Yugi three years before, and then a few months later at his Battle City tournament. Just then, the door busted open with Mokuba running in with a letter in hand.

"Big brother I got a letter for you," he said, "And you won't believe who it is from," Seto sat up in his chair and looked at his little brother with surprise but keeping his emotions from showing, who would send him a letter when most mail was in boxes now and the use of email was very frequent. "Ok Mokuba, who is the letter from?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

"I didn't open it yet, but I want you to figure it out, I though I let you read it since it is addressed to both of us." Seto then took the letter out of his teenage brother's hand and opened it, Seto looked at the writing on the envelope he could almost recognize it but the name slipped his mind, as he began to read the letter.

Nine years before

The girl stood in her room watching through the large window and hoping to see something interesting, when a noise came from the front door. She knew that Hobson had finished with the boys' belongings and now they were getting a tour of the Kaiba Corp mansion. She quickly jumped into a pair of shorts for she had been wearing a skirt and sat on her bed.

She knew that making a sound to bring attention to her room and bring her uncle to come up. She sat there waiting in the quiet space until she heard a small voice asked Hobson in the hallway. "What does that room have?" the young Mokuba asked. Hobson then answered, "Nothing important to you Young Master Mokuba, just a room with an extra bed and space nothing important, this house is full of rooms like that." The girl who was now lying down on her bed thought to herself.

'Yeah right nothing in here but me, why does my uncle have to do this to me. I have two uncles and yet this one just locks me in my room without a care and now I have two cousins that don't know I even exist, this is prefect, I wish my sister was here to take care of me, I would have to put up with him so much if she were here,' thought the girl.

Mokuba's tour with Hobson then continued as the girl listened to them walk down the hall.

Present time

Seto began to read aloud to his brother,

Dear Seto and Mokuba,

It is your step cousin, the one that was in hiding remember. I though I let you know that things are going well for me, I am now VP of a company that you will not be surprised to find. My uncle has let me in on it and I have started to work on some new games, I though I let you two see them for your selves if you could come, I heard through the grape vine, (friends) that the company my sister and I handed you is going down. I thought it was about time the four of us meet up again. I have some other news as well Sara is getting married and the nice part is she wants Mokuba in the wedding and we were wondering if we could barrow him. I know you, Seto, hate weddings and I would probably feel better if you did not show...

Seto put down the letter and scoffed at what he just read, "How dare she say that she would "feel better if I didn't come,"" Mokuba looked at his brother with puzzled, thoughts of why did she feel better that his big brother did not come to the wedding then, Mokuba, knew who wrote the letter and then remembered why. "Seto why don't you just show up with me?" he asked. Seto turned to Mokuba realizing that he just said that aloud, "Never mind bro," he answered.

Seto then picked up the letter and began to read again.

…Even though knowing you for the past nine years you are probably not going to let your brother out of sight not to mention what happened last time you put him on his own. In addition, yes my uncle that kidnapped him three years ago will be at the wedding so, if you want to pick a fight with him do so but not in front of Sara or she will kill you on the spot. I know because I had it out with him last time I saw him for what he did to you and Moky and let me say that I was the one in my room and Sara held the key.

Flashback

The girl sat there on her bed, now it was getting dark and the light from the sun was going away. The girl got up and opened her door, being as quiet as she could she walked pasted the office door, which was cracked open, and she listened to the tutor inside.

"The train leaves form station1 at 6:35am and arrives at station 2 at 7:30pm what was the amount of time did it take to get to station 1 to station 2?" the man asked. Just then she heard Hobson's voice "I am sorry to interrupt your lesson but Young Master Seto seems to be more worried about the back of his eye lids then your lesson." With that, the girl heard an "Uh" sound come from the room and the boy at the desk with a pile of textbooks, the same books that her former living cousin was always hiding behind to show he was working when really playing with some small toy.

The girl continued to walk down the hall towards the stairs when she heard someone approaching, it sounded like a little boy. As quickly as she could through herself behind a suite of armor, that stood in the hall. The hall was dark except from the light coming from the crack in the office door. Mokuba then walked right by the girl without even noticing her. The girl let out a sigh of relief when the boy disappeared from her view, "That was close," she said to herself, and hurried down the stairs.

She reached the kitchen in time to hear what was to be served, "salads for the boys and a giant stake for Gosaburo," The girl then busted in and said "and what will the niece be getting to eat or does she have to start starving?" The kitchen cooks laughed at the girl.

"You don't get to starve, little one, your food tonight is whatever you want it to be and to warn you not to eat to much for your uncle will find out," said a kind voice behind her, a young woman, the head cook to be exact, was standing behind the girl having a little New York accent. "Just eat quick Miss Kaiba your uncle will be down with the boys any minute and we heard that he doesn't want them to know about you."

The girl quickly went for the fruit basket because it was fresh and ready to go and not to mention her favorite things were in it to eat apples, grapes, oranges, and her most favorite of all fresh peaches. Just as she was about to go out the door Hobson come in the dining room with the two boys. The girl quickly ran back into the kitchen hoping not to bring attention to the door, which she just exited and re-entered.

The sound of Gosaburo voice let her know that he was now in the dining room ordering the boys to sit down and Hobson to get the food, the girl waited patiently. The girl quickly moved away from the door and headed to table for the cooks to eat. The head cook noticed that she was not going to be leaving any time soon so she finished with what she was doing and came over to the girl who was not digging into her basket of fruits.

"I take it you weren't fast enough to get through your uncle's dinning room?" she asked, the girl, who then raised her head and nodded. The cook sat down, with her, "you know you don't have to stay here forever?" The girl looked up and stared into the face of the cook, "My sister is the one who put me here and she will be back for me when she has enough money to get me away from my evil uncle, you're under paid why you stay?" The cook laughed, "I stay because I need the money and besides I have a sister to take care of too."

The girl then laughed, "You always crack me up Liz, and you are the only real friend I have in this place for now." The cook looked back at the girl "you know if you're not careful your uncle will hear you and fire me." The girl knew that the she could not have any friends with the staff because they would protect her when the time came, but since no one really said anything, the girl was the one who had to make sure her uncle never over heard.

The girl waited until the plates brought into the kitchen and Hobson spotted her. "What are you doing down here Miss Kaiba I though you were suppose to be in your room." The girl looked at him then answered, "I wasn't seen by the boys if that is what you're getting at. I came down here before dinner and I am waiting for them to leave the dinning room so that I can use the stairs that are next to the door and be unseen by anyone unless you want me to risk being seen by the two boys and my uncle becoming upset that I am known." Hobson then bowed to the girl and stepped out of the room without a word then returned moments later saying "all clear," and pointing the girl to the exit. The head cook, Liz watch the girl leave and gave Hobson a look that could kill.

As the girl ran up stairs as she heard a flop come from a room down the hall from her own thinking she should see if one of the boys was hurt, she quietly hurried to the door. Hearing the boy inside, "If I see one more textbook I think I am going to puke." The girl laughed to herself, she heard her cousin say the same thing once except she was the one with a textbook behind her back ready to show him when she was seven.

The girl was tempted to open the door and introduce herself but decided to stick to the orders she knew that her uncle gave even though she said them. The girl then returned to her room and changed into her nightclothes, crawled in to her bed and went to sleep, but before her eyes closed, she pulled out a small card, which her older sister had given her when they were kids, and said quietly. "With this blue eyes card I will see my sister again," then she put the card under her pillow and went to sleep.

Back in the Present

Seto was reading the letter to Mokuba.

The wedding is next month in Egypt; Sara says that she is going to have the service on an old ceremonial site were wedding used to take place around 5000 years ago. You know her she likes to do everything the old fashion way and at ancient sites. Anyways if you need more information or want to send me a reply just send the letter to the return address and I will make sure I get it, hope to see you there.

Sincerely

Alexandra K. Pegasus

Seto finished the letter then looked at his brother, then back at the letter. "Well Seto can we go?" Mokuba finally spoke up after a few minutes of silence. "Can we?"

Kaiba shifted in his chair the though of seeing Alexandra again wasn't a great though but how ever he was eager to find out why she only wanted Mokuba at the wedding and not him.

"I don't see why you can't go Mokuba, but I am coming with you of course with Pegasus there I don't want him to use you against me again so, why not, I will have you write the letter to her," Seto replied. Mokuba ran out of the room so fast that Seto had not finished his sentence about what he was going to have him say, Kaiba just then laughed to himself, pulled out his deck, and looked at his three blue eyes white dragons.

Nine years ago

The girl awoke one morning to the sound of her alarm clock, even though she did not remember setting it, she turned it off and got dressed. She wore a long shirt and a white top but before she ran out the door, she listened for any footsteps coming down the hall, there were none. She then opened the door to find her uncle looking down at her, "Uncle!" she said surprised to see him. "We need to talk," he said holding something in his hand. Gosaburo stepped into the room. "What is it?" the girl asked.

"This" he said holding the piece of paper in his hand, "This is the latest information about Noah and the virtual world, and his world is falling apart were going to lose him if we don't hurry." The girl nodded, and put on a coat that hung in her closet. "Where do you think your going?" he asked in a roar. "I am going to the mainframe and go to see if I can restore Noah before it is too late, or do you want me to just hand over all the data I have collected and just give it you techies?" the girl answered.

"I don't need you to rush down there, yes I need the data, and besides I want you to do something else for me," Gosaburo answered. The girl looked surprised that her evil uncle would ask a favor from her, usually it was an order then a request. "What is it uncle?" she asked.

"I want you to get as close as you can to Seto," answered Gosaburo, the girl was shocked because she had been spending the last three weeks trying to stay out of sight of the new Kaiba brothers. "Why you want me close to him, Uncle?" she knew better then to ask but she though it would be wise to know what he wanted.

"I want you to find out what he has been up to the last few weeks and also what he been working on in his room, according to his brother a new invention of some type, I want you to check it out and report it to me, got it! Do not think that I am just going to have you come down for dinner one day and become all gushy with him, I want you to go out side to the limo make sure your not seen then Hobson will come out get in the limo and drive you to the airport. You will then just get out meet up with your sister and come back here no tricks got it."

Her uncle was very stern about this because Sara had once tried to take the girl away before but failed because, the girl had a broken rib. The girl nodded she wasn't going to try to escape this time she had no choice, her sister was going to be staying with them it would be hard for both the girl and Sara to escape together unless one was out already.

The girl did as she was told and snuck out to the limo while she was in the limo she watch Mokuba and Seto play soccer. The girl waited for Hobson who then so appeared as he was walking to the car he gave an order to Seto who then went back in to the Mansion as for Mokuba he was following Hobson. The girl did not know what to do if she went the front of the car she would be out of sight of Mokuba but also Hobson, if she stayed were she was Mokuba would know she did not come from the airport with her sister.

Hobson opened the door first, Miss Kaiba I have some one I would like you to meet, and he then pushed Mokuba into the car. The little boy was surprised to see the girl in the limo, this puzzled the girl, why would her uncle tell her to hide for weeks then just one day she is to meet her cousins face to face, she thought about meeting one before. The little boy spoke first, "Hi, I am Mokuba," as he sat down across from her. The girl said nothing for she didn't know what to say she had seen him for weeks and knew who he was but never to say a word to him and always wanting to say "hi" but couldn't.

Hobson took his seat next to Mokuba and signaled the driver to take them to the airport. The girl sat silent for most of the ride then she looked at Hobson, who gave her a look. Finally, the girl spoke up "nice to meet you Mokuba," she said, Hobson gave her a look of 'why are you taking so long to talk'.

"I am Alexandra" the girl finally spoke up. Hobson then gave a cough to signal that they were at the airport and Alexandra then proceeded to exit the limo, but before she did Hobson grabbed her arm, "No funny business this time and when you get back introduce your sister to him and greet your cousins. If you don't your uncle will have his way with you, and you know what that means." Alexandra nodded her head and then proceeded to exit the limo and meet her sister.

"Alec, is that you?" Alexandra turned around to see a young full figured woman standing in front of her coming out of the gate at the airport. The woman was tall, skinny, with a tan complication, and black hair that when down to her waist. "Sara," Alexandra shouted excitedly, jumping up and down waving to her older sister it seemed that time was slowing down and nothing else mattered , it seemed as it could have been a scene from a movie. "I though I never see you again sis," said Sara as she picked up her shorter sister and gave her a great hug. "I didn't know if our uncle had killed you or beat you to a pulp."

"Well" said Alexandra, "he kind of did shut me in my room for a while but I am ok. I am just glad to see you again, Sis." Sara and Alexandra held each other for a long time when Alexandra realized that her sister had put her down and they were out by the limo. Hobson stood there with the door open and Gosaburo was next to him. Alexandra then realized why Hobson asked Seto into the house, her Uncle wanted it to look like Alexandra had her own limo and that he could show off to Sara who of course did not buy it at all.

"Welcome back Sara, How was Egypt?" Gosaburo greeted her in his deep tone of voice as if already he was barking orders. Sara did not say anything but looked at Seto and now next to him Mokuba. "I see you now have two new sons, now Uncle, didn't think you would replace… ouch" before she could finish Alexandra elbow Sara in the ribs, smiled, and did the kill sign which was the in decks fingerer across the neck with all teeth bearing, this was the signal to end the discussion about their former cousin Noah.

A little boy, that who died in an accident involving Alexandra. "Sara I want you to ride with me, and Seto, Mokuba, you ride with your Cousin Alexandra and get to know each other better, and I have to talk to your cousin Sara in private." Sara gave a face of disgust towards her uncle clearly she did not want to go with him, but she looked at her sister Alec in the "what does he mean get to know your cousin?" if looks could talk.

"Alexandra, get in the limo with your Step Cousins now," barked Gosaburo Kaiba. Alexandra did so without hesitation she knew any mistake now could be punishable later.

In the limo, Seto sat next to Mokuba on the front side while Alexandra sat next to the doors. Mokuba spoke first, "Alexandra?" he started, "call me Alec," she said. "Alec" he said trying out the new name, "why haven't I seen you at the mansion before now, I didn't see the limo arrive and I didn't see you get in?" Alec did not know what to say just then Seto covered for her, "I saw her get in the car this morning, or Step father made her sneak in when you weren't looking Mokuba." Alec took in a deep breathe she did not realize that Seto might have seen her when she got in the limo, earlier that day. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me I know your uncle been hiding you from me and my brother." Seto then moved in his seat to let Mokuba lay on his shoulder.

Alec remained quiet, and looked out the window, out side, she saw the sky blue and clear she wished she could be anywhere but in that limo at least out side in the sun and with her sister. Seto then looked hard at the Alec, she seems to be distracted and he though that talking would bring her out of her trance. "Alec what are you thinking about I mean there must be something you want to talk to me about or else why would your uncle, my step dad put us all in the same limo."

"Seto, when you need to know something I will tell you. It is a small tradition with my uncle and sister, when she would come home from working in Egypt every summer. He would separate us every time, you wonder, why because I tried to run away a few years ago from my uncle you think what he does to you and Mokuba is bad wait till a few years from now it will get worse." She quickly spoke then turned her head towards the window.

Seto did not like the though it had accord to him that things between him and his stepfather would get bad but how bad he was now wondering. He though about it for a while and then before he could say anything the car came to a stop at the Mansion and the door opened and Alec stepped out. She waited a few minutes then met up with the limo with Gosaburo and Sara.

Gosaburo came out first followed by Sara, who was now looking at him with anger. Alec knew what the conversation had been about and did not want to ask her sister, it was the same every year Sara would come home then talk to Kaiba and he would tell her that the only way she would get Alec, away from him was if she was dead, Alec then turned and headed into the mansion.

Seto watched as she headed up the front stairs instead of the side stairs that lead to the hallway, where her room was, and shut the door behind her and jumped on to the bed and shut her eyes. A few minutes later, a knock came from the door it was Sara from the knock. Alec spoke "enter" Sara walked in she saw how bare Alec's room was now it had only the window door that lead out to the balcony with some thin blinds, a dresser, a tiny lamp, and a large bed, which Alec laid on with her hand behind her head. Sara sat down next to her sister. Alec's face hidden in the darkness but Sara knew she was crying.

"Hey kiddo, I know I can't take you out of this place, at least not yet any way I still trying to get the money," Sara said trying to comfort the crying child.

"I know your doing your best Sara but why you come back every year and with no hope for me to get out; I want to get away from here away from Gosaburo, Hobson and even the memories of Noah." Alec said in an upset voice.

"Alec I know you been shut up in your room for the last few weeks and now you can act like the rest of the family and finally be free to move around the mansion. I know you want to go to Egypt with me in a few weeks and I know that every year I say that I am going to be taking you with me but…," Alec began to sob louder now and Sara had to stop to cover her mouth.

"Look, if you don't get tough here soon, our Uncle is going to be up here giving you something to really cry about," Sara said swiftly. Alec pulled back her tears and then sat up and hugged her sister. "I know little dragon I know," said Sara. "I wish mom and dad were still alive to take care of us too," she added. "Red eyes, why do I have to stay here, why not our other uncle he is just as rich and he have a heart at least," Alec said.

"Max is still going through some tough times still after hearing about Mom's death he hasn't talked to me since we first tried to get away, look you have six more years here then you can come be with me in Egypt doing your favorite thing digging for thing ancient and mysterious.

"Red Eyes, Why can't I just go with you now, just jump over the wall into the water and swim… How come you have to go in a few weeks?" Alec was losing her strong side and losing control of her emotions again. "Alexandra P. Kaiba! You sit up right now and look at me, I will not leave you ever and don't forget the card I gave you, and you do still have it right?" Sara said trying to bring her sister down again. Sara took her sister in her arms again and hugged her tight then broke when Alec moved for her pillow.

"I have the card it is right here," Alec pulled out the card and handed it to Sara, the sisters looked at the Blue Eyes White Dragon and Sara then reached into her pocket and pulled out two more cards.

"Here Little Dragon I got your card finally," Sara then handed Alec a card with a turtle like dragon called the Baby Meteor Dragon and the other card was the Red eyes Black Dragon. "I finally got Pegasus to make our cards well at least the one that is yours," Sara points to one of the cards, "and mine has always been this one." Sara continued, "I want you to keep the Baby Meteor Dragon card as, you can keep the Red Eyes for me, ok, and I will try to get you out of here soon, you just need to hang tough and don't let our Uncle intimidate you. You're strong, even stronger, then me, and that says a lot so cheer up I am here now and he won't do anything to you."

Alec looked up at her sister; she was puzzled, her sister said that she of all people was "stronger" then herself. Sara was going to be staying for a few weeks and Alec got herself out of her room with Sara as much as she could for the feeling that her uncle was just going to put her back in there after her sister left. Alec took walks on the grounds with Sara every day and enjoyed them greatly; because not one of her uncle bodyguards was around and they could go anywhere they wanted without any problems. The grove of trees in the back yard that hid the pond, the ballroom, the in door pool area or even the main hall and sit on the stairs.

One day Mokuba came running after them, Sara had taken time to talk to the boy since; he like Alec was shut up inside his room. "Sara, Alec, wait up I want to come with you," yelled the little boy as he ran down the stairs. Sara turned around from the door "ok," she said. Mokuba join Alec and Sara in their daily walk that day, the grounds mansion was big but the area around it was bigger, the backyard was the size of a whole block, which were about 100 arcs of land.

There was a grove of tall strong trees, and a large field behind that followed by a man made pond that was dirty and small, with a huge wall following behind. They walked until they came to the small back yard lake. Alec sat down and threw off her shoes, Sara just sat next to her and Mokuba sat down next to Alec, he wanted to get to know his cousin, Alec better since Seto told him she was going to be living with them and was not leaving with Sara.

They looked at the blue sky, Sara began pointing out clouds to Mokuba, he sat there amused by the clouds, and then he noticed a cloud that looked like the shape of a Blue Eyes White Dragon, Alec noticed as well. "Hey Alec, Do you know what that cloud looks like?" Mokuba said pointing to the cloud. "Yeah it looks like a Blue Eyes White Dragon, one of the coolest card ever; I think my Uncle Pegasus has all three plus one more floating about," Alec answered. Mokuba was shocked to find out that Alec and Sara both related to Max Million Pegasus; Sara had never brought him up in any of their conversations about Duel Monsters.

"I didn't know you two had another uncle," spoke Mokuba then looked at Sara who then nodded her head to agree with what Alec said. Sara then explained, "Max is the brother in law to our mother, so he would be our Uncle. Our Dad is the twin brother to Gosaburo; he was not as cruel hearted as his brother that is for sure. My Aunt Cecilia died just a few years after Pegasus married her, the same year in fact as our parents' death," she then points to her and Alec.

The mention of parents brought the though of Mokuba's parents to his head he missed his dad and wished he met his mother, and that they didn't die, but he still had Seto who was working hard to take care of him since they only had each other now.

Alec realized she hit a nerve when she and Sara brought up the subject of family, for she saw that Mokuba had a tear in his eye. Alec looked at him and brushed it away as it fell down his cheek. He looked up at her, "Don't you start crying. We are your family now and you do not have to worry, if Seto is, busy, you can always come and talk to me, and do not be letting anyone see you cry. Gosaburo will think he has won you by his power and don't let your brother either there is no reason to cry around here unless you have a good reason to and family around here is something we don't cry over."

Sara looked at her sister, for she had cried a few days before over the fact that she was not going to be going back with her to Egypt, and she cried for weeks when she found out that mom and dad were never coming back for them. They were now going to be with their cousins and Uncle. Alec put her arm around Mokuba and pulled him close, "look you can cry around me all you want, I cry a lot too and we have to be strong about it, ok," she said. Mokuba looked up at his step cousin who was now holding him. "And also, if you cry I won't tell anyone, ok not Seto, Gosaburo, nor Hobson." Mokuba gave a little laugh for the fact she mentioned Hobson, Sara did too.

A figure behind the trees was watching them and keeping an eye on his little brother, the figure then turned and walked away when Alec got up and put her shoes back on and the three began to walk back.

"Alec," Mokuba began to speak as they walked back toward the mansion, "Would you help me with something tomorrow?" Alec looked down at her cousin, "Anything," she replied, she wasn't going to be doing to much tomorrow anyways other then hanging out with Sara. "Well you teach me how to be a better chess player? Sara told me you're really good at it."

Alec shot a look at her sister, she did not like letting other people know about her days as Chess Champion of Domino City, back when she was six. "Sure Mokuba," she replied, the little boy smiled and began to skip ahead toward the mansion leaving Alec and Sara to watch. Then Alec shot at her sister "You didn't tell him that I used to play our Uncle did you?" Sara looked back at her and shook her head in a "no" motion. Alec let out a sigh of relief because she knew Seto was adopted when he beat Gosaburo in Chess, a feat that she had done as well, once and never again, for many reasons she had the cut on her leg to prove it.

"You'll do fine, just don't let him beat you too many times or he will figure it out what your doing," Sara shot back. "I won't you know I only let our Uncle win…" she trailed off. Alec remembered the time she did beat Gosaburo and a small pain in her ribs and leg reminded her, of how serve as her reminder for never winning again. Sara had witnessed the incident and looked at her sister. "He hasn't hit you again has he?" she looked at her sister, noticing that she was now holding her side in a way to show pain. Alec did not answer the question she gave Sara a look and a nod. "I know little Dragon," she answered padding Alec on the back gently.

They were now in site of the mansion and Mokuba was now standing on the steps as the girls came closer. Seto was sitting on the top step, waiting for his younger brother, who was now running to him, and Alec looked at the brothers she now had a choice at hand become friends with Seto or not following her uncle's orders this was now her decision to make.

"Hi, Seto what brings you out here?" Sara questionably asked for she knew her uncle kept him busy until late at night. "I came out to see where my brother was at; you have a problem with that Sara," he smirked.

"None," Sara answered, then turning to her sister, "Alec how much time have you spent with Seto since he got here?" Alec looked back at her sister, "not much since Uncle kept me locked in my room and you know him, "let us not tell anyone about this family for we hold the greatest empire in world,"" said Alec acting like her uncle, "or in my opinion the dumbest Corporation in the world," she then added.

Alec let out a laugh at the though of how foolish she would have looked if Gosaburo had just walked on to the porch then the thought of his anger scared her and she said nothing more. "You're lucky he is at work Alec," said Sara shaking her head. Alec looked back at her sister, and then the four of them proceeded in to the mansion. A small figure stood in the shadows of the porch and was listening to the children conversation, "we will see when the Master gets home, Alec," he spoke to himself.

Present Day

Kaiba was in his chair at Kaiba Corp. thinking about that moment when Sara and Alec were on the back porch of his stepfather's mansion. He brushed off the idea quickly by looking at his cards, he looked at the Blue Eyes card that was now at the bottom of the deck, and he looked into the eyes of the beast. A flash of 12 years old Alec came across his mind, but he quickly brushed that away before he could really focus on it. The two of them were not friends as much as family either, to two had very good reasons first was the fact she was Pegasus's niece, the second was she was one of two blood relatives to Gosaburo that were still living.

Flash back to nine years ago.

Later that night

Seto sat in his room working on a video game program to fit his favorite game of Duel monster when a sudden, 'flop' was head in the hall, he at first ignored it but the sound he heard afterward is what brought the noise to his attention. "Alec get your leg in front of you, gosh you're so heavy, I think next time you go unconscious I going to be the one covered in burses," said a voice. Seto got up from his table, which his computer sat, he noticed the time it was after midnight, near 1 am. He then headed toward the door, out to the hall.

"I am fine sis, just put me down," came the other voice which was Alec's but sounded like she was in pain or half asleep, Seto could not tell which. "You're not, ok, you are covered from head to toe in blood and the fact you think I am going to let him get away with this your dead wrong," the older voice spoke. "Sara I know your worried, but I deserved it," Alec admitted.

"YOU DON'T deserve any of it," said Sara. "Come on we'll wake Seto if you don't hurry." However, before the two of them could reach Alec's door, Seto opened his, "what are you two doing walking around this time of night?"

The hallway was dark but Seto could make out Sara, but could not see Alec, then he saw her hanging on Sara's side of her back like a bag. Sara turned to face Seto which is how he now saw Alec, "I am taking my sister to bed, don't worry about it Seto this is a family issue that doesn't concern you at all just my sister and her bad habits of sleep walking," Sara answered.

Seto then turned to head back into his room but before he did, he kept his door open enough to watch Alec and Sara. Sara opened the door of Alec's room and turned on the light, from what Seto could see Alec had blood on her right arm and her long hair covered her face to conceal something that was swelling. Seto then vowed to find the underlying cause of this, Sara was lying to him about something and he figured he knew what it was, Sara or Gosaburo, had did something to Alec.

The next morning at breakfast, Alec was not around, Sara told him and Mokuba that she was not feeling well and would not becoming down for awhile. Just then, the door opened and in walked Alec, strong and tall, her blue hair was covering the right side of her face and she was wearing long sleeves and pants. Her dress was unusual do to the plain fact that they would not be going outside today do to a summer storm coming in and the mansion always kept at a high enough temperature to wear shorts with a long leave shirt or short sleeve shirt with pants.

Gosaburo looked up, as his niece entered the which she then took up a seat next to him on his left so that her hair was covering the side which Seto and Mokuba were on and Sara sat across from her. Sara was shocked to see Alec enter the room at all compared to the mess she was last night, but Sara then noticed that her mouth was hanging open as Alec began to eat the cereal which was in front of her.

"I though you were not coming down this morning," said Sara trying to sound normal. Alec said nothing just continued to eat and keep her good left eye on her uncle who was watching her with great distinction. Alec after a few moments after stuffing some food in her mouth, "I wasn't feeling well when you came to check on me this morning. I fine now, just don't ask what I am doing today ok, I am going to back to my room and lay out the chess board to teach Mokuba to be a better chess player that he asked me to do for him yesterday."

That remark was more for Gosaburo then for Sara, who replied, "Ok, since you are not going to be going anywhere today then I should get some work done as well, and I have to leave for Egypt in a week." Gosaburo nodded his head and then proceeded towards the door of the dining room towards the main hall, which, he would then proceed to the front door, and off to work.

He stopped at the dinning room door and looked at Alec, with an evil smirk; he then looked at Seto and Mokuba. "I will see you all tonight then when I get home, and Alec," she turned completely in her chair to face him, "Yes, Uncle," she said. "I want you to do what I told you to do today after you're done with Mokuba lessons." Alec nodded then turned back toward Sara who then shook her head and mouthed the words "no." Gosaburo then turned and headed out the door, Sara got up and headed for the door in a rage, Alec caught her sister by the arm, and quietly whispered, and "Don't you dare go after him!"

Seto watched the two girls with surprise out of all the time Sara had been there at the mansion for a week and he had never seen the girl angrier. Sara pushed Alec's arm off her own. She then walked toward the door, towards the hall, Alec followed in hot pursuit. Seto looked at Mokuba and they too headed towards the door but they did not go through it but placed their ears on it.

"Uncle I need to talk to you," said Sara. The front door was open, "I don't have time to talk Sara, I am going to be late for work, I will talk to you when I get home," answered Gosaburo. "Yeah like you talked to Alec last night that was some smart thing to do," Sara shot back.

Alec's footsteps were in the echo of the room; they came over from the door, which Mokuba and Seto were listening. "Sara, do not get in…." Quickly Sara silenced her sister, "Alec, this is between me and our Uncle, stay out of it," Sara yelled. "Hurry up and say what you're going to say I am a busy man and Sara you know I don't like it when I am late," he roared.

"Gosaburo, I want to take my sister with me! Back to Egypt where I know you can't hurt her," Sara demanded. The boys kept there ears to the door but did not hear a sound, but of the door slamming. Seto and Mokuba then looked out Alec was on her knees looking at the door, Sara and Gosaburo were gone. Seto looked at Mokuba, "Bro, I want you to go back to the table I am going to go see what is going on." The little brother nodded and headed back to his seat.

Seto walked over to Alec who had both hands covering her face, "Alec?" She looked up her hair was still covering her right side of her face. "I am fine Seto," she said then as she began to get up, she fell down again, but before she hit the floor, he caught her and was holding her in his arms.

He looked down at her, with hair still covering the right part of her face he looked into her eye, "You sure," he said. The door slams and the moment was broken, Sara had come storming back into the mansion.

"Seto what the…" Sara began, and was interrupted, by Alec, "It's ok Red Eyes, I just fell down and Seto caught me, he was just helping me back to my feet, you know with my hurt leg and all," Alec spoke quickly. Sara was shocked she never heard her sister sound so clam about someone helping her before, and it was the first time Alec had ever called her by her nickname in the presence of another person.

Seto got Alec to her feet, stood her up, and headed towards the dinning room door he had to talk to Mokuba before he went to work with the tutors. "Seto," said Alec as he was about to go through the door, he turned "Yeah." "Thanks for catching me," she said. "It was nothing you just fell to the ground and you were lucky I was close by," he answered then walked out of room.

Sara picked up her sister and carried her up the stairs and into her room, a few hours later a knock came at the door. "Alec, Sara, it time for my chess lesson," came a little voice; down the hall Seto hearing, his little brother gave a small laugh as he worked on his math problems.

Sara opened the door, "Sorry Mokuba, Alec is resting she's not feeling too good." A frown fell on the boy's face, "can I at least talk to her, then if she is too tired to play?" Sara was now torn, she could not say no to Mokuba's sad face yet she could not let him see Alec the way she was currently. "Sara let Mokuba in I promised to teach him to be better at chess and I am going to," came Alec's voice from inside the room. Sara opened the door and let the little boy in, who was now with a big smile on his face.

Alec and Mokuba played chess under the close watch of Sara, who was sitting in the corner of the room keeping one eye on the two kids and the other on the window for her uncle's limo. A knock came at the door, Sara jumped to answer it, but Mokuba got to it first, "Hey Seto, want to come in?" Sara hearing that it was Seto jumped up, Alec who was on the bed resetting the chess game looked at her sister. "Sure," said Seto as he entered the room.

Seto had never been in Alec's room before; it was bare with a queen size bed, a large window door with a balcony, a chair that Sara had been sitting in, and a chest of dowers, which a lamp sat on the top that was lighting the dark room. "This is your room, I though my Step Dad was cheap but this is ridiculous" said Seto, his room was a lot better at least he had a desk and with a lamp and a couch also a computer to do papers which he also secretly used to create video games but kept having trouble with them. Alec's room was bigger then his but it lacked furniture. "You have a problem with my sister's room, Seto?" Sara asked.

"I am a simple person Seto," said Alec as she and Mokuba started another game of chess, "I like haven't really wanted much of anything, I just take what I need, use it, and I keep it at that, that is about it." Sara looked at her sister, she knew that the only reason Alec didn't asked anything more for her room was because of her uncle and the fact she was saying she was simple was out of the question.

"Alec, come on your not "simple," that just isn't true, is it?" asked Mokuba. Alec let out a laugh, "you caught me Mokuba, and I guess I can't hide much from you" Alec jumped up from the bed and headed under her bed and pulled out a large box, she then placed it on the bed. "Here," she said, in the box were some games, toys, even a few duel monster cards, but they were weak ones and common too, a small note book was in the box but it had a lock on it, and looked like a diary. Sara jumped at the diary and grabbed it first, "Alexandra! How in the world did you get this?" said Sara in a shock state.

The diary was old in brown leather with a belt around the cover and a tiny lock on it. It appeared to be ancient, do to the color of the pages. Seto looked at Alec who then explained, "It was our mom and dad's, when they died only a few items were left from the fire, and I manage to grab the diary."

Sara looked at the book, she then left the room leaving the book on the dresser, she returned a few minutes later with a key. "I though this would come in handy someday," she took the key and put it in the lock and turned the lock unlatched. "YES" said Sara as she opened the book, Seto, Mokuba, and Alec looked at each other then at Sara. Sara realized that she was jumping around the room and watched by her younger sister and her two-step cousins.

"I have been looking for this since Mom and Dad died, I though it was lost in the fire," said Sara looking at Alec. Alec looked down at the chessboard and was close to a checkmate with Mokuba, she did not look at her sister she knew it was a moment not to say anything at all. "You had it all this time, why did you not tell me?" Sara demanded. Alec made a move then looked at her sister with her hair still covering her right eye. "Why do you think I didn't tell you," Alec finally answered. Sara realized that the diary was to stay away from some one and she knew whom it was from the way Alec looked at her, the look was the same way that Pegasus looked at that moment.

Sara pictured her uncle Max standing at the tombstones of her parents and next to her mother's grave was her aunt who had died that year as well. The feeling of the rain hitting her head while she cried her eyes out and seeing Alec standing tall not letting one tear fall from her face standing next to Pegasus with a cold look in her eyes Gosaburo was standing by the limo in the back round.

Alec had been there when her aunt died that day who would have known that her mother and father would be gone only a few months later. Alec may had been five at the time but the images, still there locked in the little girl's mind. Sara came out of the flash of the past and realized that she had been just staring at Alec with a blank look, Mokuba was now looking at her, and Seto had taken a seat in the chair by the window looking out of it.

"Mom and Dad died in a fire about six years ago," spoke Alec, who started feeling as if she owed the boys an explanation. "Sara saved me but some how they couldn't save themselves, Sara tried to run back in after them but…" Alec stopped for a tear fell down Sara's face to the floor, which she was now looking. "I didn't save them when I knew I could have done it," Sara said in soft whisper. "We were in Egypt, mom and dad were Archeologists, I was having trouble trying to get to sleep when I smelled something burning," Sara paused she knew she had said too much she and Alec had made a promise to put that part of the past behind them. Alec decided to finish the story, "We were taken to our Uncle Pegasus who earlier that year lost Aunt Cecilia to an illness."

Mokuba was looking at the looking down at the chessboard and a single tear fell down his face and it landed on the board Alec wiped the next one off his face, he missed his parents but it was just him and Seto now like Alec and Sara they didn't have anyone either.

Alec looked at her sister who was looking at Mokuba, "Sorry shouldn't have opened old wounds," said Sara as she closed the book, and set it on the dresser. Seto had remained silent the whole time looking out the window, he had been looking out of it for the last hour not making a sound just watching as the rain drops began to fall on the balcony and hit the window.

Sara looked at her sister and walked out of the room leaving the two boys and Alec. Alec knew what her sister was going to do even though she knew that she would deny any of it, she knew that her sister was crying. Mokuba and Alec played two more games, and lost on propose. Seto stop looking at the window turned towards Alec and Mokuba.

"Are you going to keep letting my brother win?" Seto asked. Alec looked up at Seto; she could see that he knew she was going easy on the boy. "I only let him win the last two games, sometimes you have to let someone else win to learn something," Alec replied. "I know you beat my uncle to get here, and I still have the marks to prove it but, you should know something Seto, my Uncle is going to make you like him."

Mokuba was now paying attention to Alec and Seto; the two of them were in a silent staring contest. A knock at the door came, broke the two gazes, it was Hobson, "Miss Kaiba, is Master Seto and Master Mokuba in there with you?" Alec got off the bed and answered the door, "Yes Hobson there in here, is there something wrong?" Hobson nodded his head.

"I have orders from Master Gosaburo, he wants you to keep your distance from the boys till you get better," replied Hobson. Alec knew what this meant, Gosaburo though it might be safer to keep her away for a while to let her heal from the night before beatings. "Alright Hobson," she said, turning to Mokuba and Seto, "you heard the man my Uncle want you boys to keep your distance from me, I guess he thinks what I have is dangerous," Alec then let out a laugh along with Mokuba.

"Your funny sister, making a joke like that in front of Hobson when you know he is just going to tell our Uncle about it, like he did yesterday about you doing your impersonation of him," Sara announced. Stepping down the hall, dressed in her digging clothes, which were a black tee shirt, with brown shorts and a vest all looked dirty and were sopping wet.

"Been digging have we Miss Sara Kaiba?" said Hobson who looked over Sara, who then let out a sigh. "Yeah you could say that, out in the rain on a day like today for the last two hours making a surprise for Uncle Kaiba," Sara then began to walk towards her own room, which was three doors down from Alec's room. She turned just before entering, "Oh by the way Hobson," a smirk crossed her face, " I would let my dear Uncle know not to come in the front way, or else he will be finding some pot holes," she entered her room and shut the door.

Alec was laughing, but only on the inside, Sara was going to get it for sure. Seto and Mokuba left the room after further ushering from Hobson, to let "Miss Kaiba" get some rest, even though Alec knew that it would only be a matter of time before she and Sara were going to be marching down stairs to hear a lecture.

Mokuba then turned back as he and his brother as they were head to Seto's room, "Hey Alec, thanks for helping me with chess I had fun, thank you." Seto looked back at Alec who answered, "Your welcome Mokuba it was a pleasure to play against you." Mokuba stopped before heading into his older brother's room, "Alec can you do me a favor?" he asked. "Sure Mokuba," she answered.

He looked at Seto, who was watching Hobson head down the stairs. Mokuba ran towards Alec and whispered, "Can you call me Moky?" Alec nodded and patted the boy on the head and gently pushed him towards his brother who was waiting with the door open and chessboard in hand. Seto ushered his brother in and shut the door, Alec went back into her room and shut the door as well, jumped on to the bed, this was one of the happiest days of her life, but she then noticed the open book on the dresser.

Alec took the book and shut it and locked it back up, put it in the box and placed that back under her bed. Alec pulled out a box, which contained the cards of Baby Meteor Dragon, the Blue Eyes White Dragon card, and now the key to the diary. She placed it back under her three pillows and decided to take a small nap since in an about two hours before Gosaburo was going to be coming home and all hell was about to break lose on the Kaiba mansion.

Present Day

Seto was in the office thinking about that day which Mokuba became better at chess player, after that day of training. He was also looking at one of his three Blue Eyes White Dragon Cards. Mokuba then burst through the door again, holding a letter in hand. "I am done big brother, want to read it?" said the little 16 year old. Seto took the letter from his brother. "Na, why don't you read it to me," said Seto as he sat up in his chair pulled it into his desk, and set his deck down, and facing his little brother.

Mokuba begins to read:

Dear Alec

Seto and I will be at Sara's wedding, I would also like to say thank you for choosing me to be a part of it. We need details of exactly were it is at and when, please send a reply via email. You know Seto he does not like anything-old fashion mailboxes.

Kaiba let out a small laugh, he knew that Alec would get a kick out of that, the whole reason she probably sent the letter the old way was to upset him. He looked at his brother who had stopped reading the letter. "Something wrong Mokuba?" asked Seto. "Yeah, my letter doesn't seem to be right, I mean it short yet sweet but I want to tell her what has been going on lately too." Mokuba answered.

"Well," Seto said taking a deep breathe, "Let me guess you want me to write it, now." Mokuba nodded. "Well," Seto though, 'why not I mean it been a while since I talked to Alec and she did put me on the spot when she said I might not want to come and I could give her a piece of my mind when it comes to that spine less jackal Pegasus'. "Ok Mokuba, I will do it but under one circumstance, the boy looked up. "You work on a better one for you, we will send two letters, and I will work on mine while you clean your room, deal!" Seto outstretched his hand across the desk towards his brother. Mokuba nodded and took his brother's hand and they shock on it.

Back Nine Years before.

That Night

As the thunder clasped and roared, nothing could blare out the sound of Gosaburo yelling at top volume. He and Sara were having a shouting debate and Alec was glad to be in her room at that moment. Sadly, Gosaburo was just down the hall, yelling with Sara's door since she locked it. In less then a week her sister would be gone, she be locked in her room, and her step cousins would think she went Egypt with her sister disappearing from them, when she would be right under their noses. Alec then sat up and checked her arm, which covered with rapping under her long sleeves to see if the cut had healed since the night before. Alec was glad Mokuba did not have to hear this, he and Seto decided to go to his room since it was on the other side of the mansion and they asked Alec to join them but she insisted on staying to follow her uncle's orders.

As Alec, laid there listening to the rain and her Uncle's yelling, she almost felt like the rain was singing to her, as if a calling, then she sat up and turned on the lamp since the room was almost completely dark. As Alec did so she remembered the book and jumped down to get it since she could not sleep she might as well read. Alec took the book and the key and opened it she set it down the lock to quickly seal the diary if Gosaburo came barging in, to yell at her for not stopping her sister or blaming her for the mess.

The first page completely written in her mother's handwriting

The Search for Hope

Date: May 29, 19—

The last part of the date was smudged out do to the condition the book was in which was good condition, but some of the pages had ink spots as if it was written with a feather pen.

I have spent the last two days helping my brother-in-law Max Pegasus continues to try to bring back the once forbidden shadow games. At least in a harmless way, not using monsters in people's minds, which is good for a start. Being that my husband and I are archeologists here in Egypt I beginning to wonder what toll it is taking on my daughter Sara, she had been out here for the last three days and well she seem to be a great worker but she doesn't realize what she is searching for. I hope my brother-in-law knows what he is doing; he is determined to bring my sister back I hope this is going to work.

However, my other daughter Alexandra has been enjoying her time with her cousin Noah at my brother-in-law's ranch in California. I just heard that she is riding horses and is enjoying it greatly, if only my husband could convince his brother to take Sara too. She would have had such a blast, but Noah and she are around the same age and since Sara is older, I guess he would not want to hang out with two girls.

Alec sat down the book; she remembered the time Noah and her went out riding horses, running through the field of the Oak Ranch. She also remembers being only five and learning to ride, but she was a natural, Alec though about her cousin it was hard to accept he was not going to be coming back at least not any time soon, physically. Alec sat there for few moments when she realized that the yelling had stopped, when she heard a clash of thunder. Alec quickly put the lock back on the book and tucked it under her pillow even though it was safer in the box.

The sound of stomping feet were coming closer to the Alec's door, she could tell that the sound belonged to a man that was 6 feet tall. Alec quickly throw some blankets over her and acted as if she was asleep even a fake snore every few minutes, even though he was not in the room yet. The door creaked open and Gosaburo stood there looking at the girl in the bed, clearing his throat Gosaburo said, "Alexandra wake up you unless GIRL!" Alec moved slowly like waking from sleep, she saw her uncle in the light of the hall, "I want you too tell me the truth did you or didn't you do what I asked you to do?" Alec sat up in the bed and looked at her uncle she had not fully done what needed to be done.

"I did one thing, that is get to know my step cousins better, but I do not have what you asked for just be patient I will get what you want," answered Alec, knowing that she was pushing her uncle's patience to the point of boiling. "You better find out soon or else I will do to you what I did to your sister," Gosaburo threatened.

Alec suddenly realized that there was not a sound coming from down the hall. "I will leave you to get some rest since you are going to be having a busy day tomorrow," Gosaburo then left the room and shut door.

Alec jumped out of bed and headed towards Sara's room. The door to the room kicked open and the light was out, Alec turned on the light. Sara was on the floor with blood coming out of cuts in her face and a black eye forming.

"Sara can you hear me," Alec yelled. Sara then opened her good eye and looked at her sister, "Yeah Dragon, I hear you, stop yelling or you will have our Uncle back up here." Alec helped her sister off the floor with her only good arm. Gosaburo had done the same thing to Sara that he had done the night before to Alec, which was beating her up.

Alec made trips into the bathroom to get toilet paper and bandages. Sara was now sitting on the bed with Alec in her room, cleaning the cuts. Sara explained that she was fighting with Gosaburo and she lost. "You know he is bigger, why did you ever think you could win?" Alec asked after sister told that she was the one who challenged their uncle. "I though I could if I beat him up and won, I could take you to Egypt with me when I leave next week but now it looks like I will be leaving in a few days," Sara answered. Alec looked down at floor, "You know why he been making me stay here, our Uncle, he still blames me for what happened to Noah," Sara looked up she never heard her sister admit to Noah's accident.

"What happened that day, sis?" asked Sara. Alec continued to look at the floor; she did not want to bring up that memory of her cousin's death. Sara could see that in her sister, "you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, you can tell me when you're ready." She then put her arm over her sister's shoulders. Alec looked up and smiled and helped her sister finished cleaning up.

Alec and Sara both now had a black eyes and cuts on there bodies. Alec had a large wound on her right arm and Sara had a burse on her side from which Gosaburo had kicked her. The next morning neither girl came down for breakfast, Seto and Mokuba noticed. Gosaburo was eating rather quickly to head to work; the question that got Seto was his answer to what was taking the girls so long to come down. Gosaburo had answered with that both of them were not feeling well last night and decided to skip breakfast. Mokuba looked at his brother; they knew that Alec would probably not be feeling well; even though she seems to be perfectly fine all day yesterday, but now Sara something was up to no good.

Seto and Mokuba watched Gosaburo leave for work and the two of them made mad dashes towards the girls' rooms. Seto was first to Alec's door, he knocked on it "Alec, Alec wake up I need to speak with you," the door opened, Sara stood there tall and determined. "Come on in Seto, Mokuba you too, hurry," as she ushered them into the room. Sara took a quick look outside, up and down look of the hallway then shut the door. Alec looked at the boys who were watching Sara as she moved back over by the window and watched the limo with her uncle inside leave the property.

"Sara what happened to your face," Mokuba asked. Sara turned and faced her little step cousin, "This," she pointed to her black eye, "this, was the handy work of your, Step Father, he isn't afraid of his own flesh and blood when it comes to fighting for someone." Mokuba was puzzled he did not understand why Gosaburo would hit Sara, she and he may have argued few times but never has he hit her.

Alec let out a sigh, "He hit her last night because she was going to take me back to Egypt with her and live there, but, I am not going." Seto and Mokuba turned, "How come you're not going with her?" Mokuba asked. Alec looked at her sister, "Because, of me," said Sara, "I made a deal with Gosaburo, a stupid one too. I was to go to Egypt and he was to take care of Alec. The thing is that I am over 18 I can come and go as I wish but Alec well, as you can see she isn't even in her teens."

Sara then turned back to the window, she then opened the door that lead to the balcony and walked on to it, Mokuba went to join her. Seto turned to Alec, "He hasn't hit you, has he?" Alec looked at Seto her hair was hanging over her right eye, she took her hand and moved it aside. "What do think?" she said, Alec had shown her right eye, which was a mix of black, purple, and blue, the whole side of her face was covered in burses. "I see he hits, his own nieces," he said.

"It been going on for a while ever since my parents died, this is the first time Sara has ever seen it happened while she was here along with her being hit and kicked," Alec explained, "Don't worry about it Seto, this is a Kaiba family issue one that you and Moky better stay clear of it. Gosaburo can do this to his brother's flesh and blood then who knows what he will do to you two."

Sara turned and looked at her sister through the window, Alec caught the glance, and this was her chance while she kept Mokuba busy with bird spotting. "Seto, you're a Kaiba now it comes with the turf. Gosaburo wasn't about to let you find out about it, trust me I won't let him get away with this forever," said Alec.

Seto tried to believe her, he really did, but he knew that if Gosaburo ever laid a hand to hurt Mokuba he would kill his stepfather, on the spot. "Alec, how long exactly has he been doing this to you and Sara?" Alec looked up and answered, "For the last few year to me this is the first for Sara, were both taking it tough, though. You see Seto, my Uncle, he hasn't really got over the loss of my dad and he is taking his anger and pain out on me, mostly because I was just dropped on him, also the fact that I look like my mother so much is another one."

Seto was puzzled, he never thought that his stepfather had a brother, but to have also been in love with Alec and Sara's mother that was a twist he did not expect. Alec explained that her parent went to school together when they were young, and were really good friends up to the time of high school, her father, Jake, asked her mother Ann, out before Gosaburo could and the two ended up getting married and ever since had hated anything to do with his brother and sister-in-law. Alec then pulled out the diary from under her pillow and showed it to Seto.

"My Mother wrote most of this but my dad has entries in it too, but the reason I didn't tell Sara I had it was the fact she is working with my Uncle Max who could use the information in here to hurt my Uncle Gosaburo. I kept the diary away from everyone I could," Alec explained, "It is one of my secrets, don't tell anyone else or you will be facing my furry, I plan to use this book against my Uncle but when the time is right, which will be soon. I also think there are things in this book that I would want to check out if I could ever get to Egypt. My mom talked about a cave which held an ancient temple which my hold a special item that grants your wishes."

Seto nodded his head, "Alec come with me I have something to show you." Alec followed Seto into his room. "Shut the door," Seto ordered. "I been working on this for a while, and I am going to take it to Gosaburo, but I think he will just throw it back in my face and laugh." Alec watched as he booted up the computer on the desk and brought up the algorithms for a game that he had been working on, it was for duel monsters in a chess format. Alec saw this is what Gosaburo wanted her to get from Seto.

"That is so, cool, I know my Uncle and you could make big bucks with this, but your right he would probably throw it in your face he is in to military stuff and this program could help make it better in a way. I mean each monster could be set up as a group of troops," commented Alec, Seto nodded his head in agreement. "I don't know if I should take it to him though?" Alec scoffed she knew the easy way to get Gosaburo off her back was to have Seto take it to him ASAP. "Seto, the thing you have to know about my Uncle is that you need to show guts if no guts no glory, that his motto," said Alec.

"I think you should show him when he gets home that way, he won't have a choice but to face you but considering what Sara went through last night you might want to wait and go to his office, which is probably the safest way to do it." Seto nodded in agreement, "Ok Alec, I am taking your advice don't steer me wrong or you'll be the one to pay." Alec then sat next to her cousin, "I would never do that to you Seto, as I said in my room your family now, what else we are going to do if we can't watch each others backs."

Alec then took the keyboard off the table and stated typing algorithms into it, Seto almost jumped at her for it but then he saw what she was doing. I think I just solved one of your games glitches. Seto looked an error message that had kept popping up every time the blue eyes white dragon would be firing its white lighting blast, but some how Alec manage to fix it. "I didn't know you knew about programming," Seto commented. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me Seto," sneered Alec, " I used to hang out at my Uncle's office a lot and I work with some of the techies, on projects for my uncle, the funny thing was that I was responsible for the aerodynamics on one of his tanks and he never knew about it."

Seto let out a laugh when Alec explained that she was working on one of the computers when she solved the problem just by pressing a few buttons on the control panel. "It was easier then it really sounded," she said, Seto nodded in agreement, the two teens talked about ideas for games and computer software for the next few hours, Seto had finally realized that he had more then a cousin now, it was friend.

Mokuba interrupted the two teens' conversation, by bursting through the door and followed by Sara. Alec took it as a cue to leave the room, and to head into her room before Gosaburo found her in Seto's room. Hobson came up the stairs just as Alec entered her room; he had a message for the two girls and two boys. The knock came on Alec's door first; Sara was in her room since it would not look right if the girls were just sitting around and not talking to each other. Hobson rapped on the door lightly, "Miss Alec, is your sister in there I have a message from your Uncle for her." Sara opened the door, "Yes Hobson."

Hobson cleared his throat, "Master Gosaburo has order that you and your sister are to dress in your best tonight, for there is a party going on at the Devin Manor, and he needs both of you, too look your very best." Sara nodded and looked at Alec, "What time does he want us ready?" Alec asked now standing by her sister with her hair hanging over her right eye. "Be ready at around, 6:00pm, Miss Alec," he replied. "Very well Hobson, my sister and I will be ready by 6:00pm thank you for letting us know," said Sara, as Hobson turned and headed toward Seto's room to give the same message to both the boys.

The time was almost 5:45pm when Seto and Mokuba dressed in their best outfits, waited in the main hall by the front door, for Alec and Sara. Sara came out of the hall first and towards the two boys. She was dressed in a beautiful strapless black evening dress with long white gloves, and her long brown hair tied up and away from her face, she had dark blue almost black colored eye shadow on and you could not even see which eye had black and blue only hours been before. She walked towards the boys, Mokuba mouth hit the floor, he swear at that moment Sara looked just like his mother, from one of his young memories; even for someone in her early 20's Sara looked much older.

Mokuba was dressed in white pants, green turtle neck shirt with a white jacket. Seto was in a white suit with purple tie, they looked much more mature then they appeared. Sara finished walking down to the main hall and stopped in front of the boys, "Well don't we all look handsome," she commented, she then pulled out a small tissue from her purse and wiped Mokuba's face which contained a spot of dirt. "There, much better." Seto looked at his brother, he did look better now the smug was gone. Gosaburo was next to come down the stairs, it was now 5:50pm. Gosaburo was wearing the same red and orange suite that he always wore to work.

"Where's Alec?" snapped Gosaburo. Sara let out a sigh, "She isn't coming, and wasn't feeling well." In truth, Alec could not hide the bruises that covered the right half of her face, as easily as Sara could, which was just around one eye, that she covered it with make-up. "Shall we, Uncle?" motioned Sara towards the door, sticking her arm out to be taken by her uncle in gentle men way.

He took her arm, and the boys lead the way to the limo out front, on the balcony Alec watched them all get into the limo. Sara looked up at her sister who stood on the balcony, "Bye Alec, hope you feel better." Alec gave a small wave with her hand. Gosaburo then looked up at Alec on the terrace, he could make out that she was wearing her robe and blue hair pulled back with a mug in hand leaning on the rail. "Good night Alexandra, hope to see you later," he waved then got into the limo. The limo drove off, Alec returned to her room, a few minutes later the light in Alec's room went out, and her shadow seen moving with in it.

At the Devin manor, the party was very social, mostly old business executives with wine in there glasses talking about the latest stokes on Wall Street. Mokuba and Seto stayed close to Gosaburo, then introduced as his new sons. Sara stood with them when they entered but then found her way to the corner of the room were a few other girl her age were standing with glasses of wine laughing causally. Music was playing and Seto looked around he saw that everyone was wearing masks including him. Seto watched what was going on it seem like a fancy place to hold a party, the lights were bright form the many chandeliers, the peach covered walls, with the large drapes hanging from the ceiling were amazing this was his fifth party he had ever been to, he now found it to be a complete and oater bore.

Mokuba was not paying much attention to Gosaburo or Seto his eyes fixated on the door for a lone girl had just walked in to the room. Seto turned towards his brother when he felt Mokuba pulling at his sleeve. "Quit pulling on me," he ordered. "Seto look," said Mokuba pointing. Seto looked at the direction his brother was pointing, a girl stood at the entrance she was tall, skinny with white skin, look to be about 13, 14 years old, but very elegant and graceful, her blue hair was tied in a French braid then looped in to a vertical bun and a blue mask mystic mask covered her face.

The dress she was wearing was sky blue that sparkled when light was on it. Seto could not take his eyes off the girl it seemed as only she was moving and everyone else was standing still, Sara seems to notice the girl had entered as well, and elbowed Seto in the back. "Ouch, Sara," he said. Sara looked down at her cousin, "staring rude Seto Kaiba," she ordered, "I see her too." While he was watching the girl, Sara must have snuck up on him from behind. As she as walked she seemed to be floating like phantom a beautiful phantom. The girl appeared to be looking for someone; Seto looked up at Gosaburo who was talking, to another business executive. Mokuba was watching the girl, she was cute, and he was not even at the age were he liked many girls but he liked the look of this one. Seto then looked at his brother and flicked him in the shoulder, "Ouch Seto," he replied, Seto gave the same order that Sara had given him.

The girl moved around the room until she came to Sara, the girls began to talk to one another; a shocked look was in Sara's eyes at least what seen through her mask. The girl approached Gosaburo, and began to talk with him. "Well glad you could make it," he said to the girl. A calm and gentle voice answered, "I happy to be here as you requested," said the girl which then handed Gosaburo a desk, "this is all you asked for, it is for project N, I though I give it to you now since I won't have time to later," the girl then moved away from Gosaburo. Seto decided to make his move, the headed over to the table, as the girl pored herself a glass of punch.

"Hi," said Seto. The girl turned, "Hello is there something I could do for you, young Kaiba?" Seto was shocked he knew the voice but not the face, "Do I know you?" he asked. The girl smirked, "you should, since you live in my uncle's mansion with me." Seto was flabbergasted, "Alec, is that you?" the girl shock her head. "Who else did you think would know you besides Sara and Moky?" Seto had not expecting Alec to be looking like his age he was a year older then her. "Alec, Sara said you weren't feeling well, what changed your mind?" Seto asked after a moment of staring into Alec's beautiful blue eyes.

"Well moment after you all left, I decided to ask what kind of party you all went to and I found out that it was a masked party so, I used what make up I had left on to cover my busies and well the face mask seem to be doing the rest," she answered. "I see," came a voice from behind her, "Hello Alec nice to see you again," Alec turned it was Pegasus.

"Uncle Max, what brings you here?" she asked, Sara appeared beside him, "I am here because Devin Corp, seem to be a very good investment, and I heard that the CEO of the company son has a game he wants me to take a look at, I take it your Uncle Kaiba has brought you here?" Alec gave a nod and pointed in Gosaburo direction. "I see," he said. "Well, I must be off need to talk something over with your older sister, here bye-bye sweaty," he then walked away with Sara in tow.

"That was interesting," commented Seto as Alec suddenly jumped after Max and Sara. Alec reached her sister and pulled her hard, "You better not tell him about you know what or I will be in more of a mess when you leave," she whispered into her sister's ear. Sara nodded and went back to talking with Max; Alec went and rejoined Seto at the punch bowl.

"That was interesting, something you want to tell me," Seto sneered, Alec took the punch in which he handed to her, and took a drink like a shot of alcohol. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with Seto, just a little family business that's all." Alec then walked off toward her cousin Mokuba, asked him something and he nodded yes.

Alec and Mokuba walked out to the dance floor, which Sara and Pegasus were already dancing along with other guests at the party. Seto stood at the punch bowl watching his little brother and step cousin, he felt a little jealous of his little brother, but had an idea. He set down his glass and walked over to Alec and Mokuba, "May I cut in," Mokuba and Alec looked at him, "You may," Alec said, and handed Mokuba to him, Seto felt he had been betrayed, "I meant you, Alec could I dance with you, not my brother."

Alec and Mokuba laughed, "I know, I just though that next time you watch to people dancing and ask to cut in you should be more specific, of whom you want to dance with." After Seto's moment of embarrassment, Alec came and took Seto's hand, "You don't mind do you Moky?" she asked, Mokuba shook his head and yawned, "I am going to go sit down," he said and walked away.

Alec and Seto started slow dancing and held each other at a distance, Sara, Pegasus, and Gosaburo watched the two teens, Mokuba was falling asleep at the table with both hands propping his face up, but was watching his brother as well. "You know, I was wondering, why did you wait to come?" Seto asked. "I told you I had found out that this was a mask party and besides you don't think I was just going to let you, Moky, and my sister have all the fun."

She replied. "Yeah but we took both limos with us how did you get here?" he asked, "and how did you find out anyway?" Alec let out a silent laugh, "My Uncle Pegasus, he got a phone call from Sara after you all got here and told him to pick me up on the way to the party, and to bring a mask." Seto was surprised he remembered Sara leaving for a moment after they arrived; he did not think about it much at that moment he was happy. "I am glad you did come," he said. Alec looked back at him, "me too," she replied.

The two just danced in circles across the dance floor, Sara and Max were watching them. "You know Sara, I think Alec is in love," said Pegasus. "Max it doesn't take a person with the ability to read minds to see that, I know she is in love with Seto she been that way for a while now," said Sara, "too bad it all about to come crashing down," she sighed. Max looked at her, "what do you mean?" Sara looked at her uncle, "I mean, she is only, oh never mind," Sara complained and took a drink of wine, "I am just a little drunk, don't worry about me."

Max looked at Sara, "You are, that was you tenth one since we sat down, tell me Sara, what is on your mind?" Sara look at her uncle, "you have the power to see in my head, what you think?" she then motioned to have a look at Gosaburo. Pegasus caught the hint, and looked; Gosaburo was staring right at Alec with fire in his eyes. Sara had seen this coming and now so did Max, Gosaburo did not want Alec to get this close to Seto but he wasn't about to blow it in front of these people.

Seto and Alec were enjoying each other's company and even though he did not like to dance very much, Seto was enjoying himself. Alec felt as if she was in heaven and nothing could go wrong, she felt safe and secure as they were dancing together, just then she realized that she and Seto were really dancing close from there original, half an arms length, which they started, to the point now to almost hugging him. Seto begin to notice too, but he did not mind, for he felt almost like Alec but the thing that was different was he did not want this happy moment to end even though with all his brainpower he had, he knew that "all good things come to an end."

At that moment, a noise was heard across the room, of someone falling on the floor that ended the happy moment between the two. Sara had fallen to the floor very drunk; Mokuba who was half a sleep had his head on the table. Max was helping Sara to her feet; Alec looked at Seto, "so much for a moment," she said quietly, and went to her sister's aid. "I am fine, I am fine," said Sara. Alec looked at her sister; she was embarrassing Gosaburo, and Alec spotted it half way across the room too.

Max quickly left to get the driver to his limo, and Alec sat her sister up in the chair. "You stay here," she said to Sara who then passed out and hit the tabletop. Seto was now with Mokuba, trying to get him to sit up and act awake. Alec appeared next to him, "Here," she said handing Seto a piece of ice, "this should wake him up." Seto smiled and took the ice, he did not like pulling this on his brother but Sara was enough of an embarrassment in her condition to the Kaiba family and with Mokuba asleep was even more an insult toward the Devin family.

Seto took the ice and placed it down Mokuba's shirt, causing him to jump up wide-awake. Pegasus returned and called Alec over, to help with Sara. She left Seto and Mokuba and went to her sister's aid, Gosaburo however stood in her way, "I want you to make sure she is packed by the time I get home and that she doesn't come down in the morning to say good bye to me or else you got that!" he ordered. Seto had Mokuba on his feet and walking with sleepiness in his eyes. "Uncle Gosaburo since I am going in Pegasus's limo with Sara home, how about Mokuba and Seto too, Mokuba seem to be looking pretty tired and if he falls asleep well, we will have a real problem in our hands," Alec hinted to Gosaburo. He moved out of the way to let Alec get by and called Seto and Mokuba over to him. Alec joined Max and Sara, "Uncle Max could we take Mokuba and Seto home too it is on the way?" Max nodded since he knew Alec was going to ask.

Mokuba came running over to Alec, "Gosaburo said that I could go with you all home." Alec and Pegasus nodded, taking Sara and headed towards the exit. They got to the limo waiting out front, and Sara was first to go in, then Mokuba, but Alec waited. Max noticed that she was not getting in just yet, "Wait Max, we can't leave without Seto," Alec said. Mokuba then appeared in the door, "Alec he isn't coming, Gosaburo wants him to stay until the end of the party if he leaves now it will show bad character for the family and also it would be bad for him to miss this important event to get to know his enemies."

Alec let a sigh, of not wanting to leave, but she was now split in two, she didn't want to leave Seto alone with Gosaburo and she didn't want Mokuba to carry Sara up the stairs by himself with Hobson either.

"Alec it your choice if you want to stay or go," said Pegasus seeing her hesitate to grab the door shut. Alec then saw Seto at the exit to the party; she knew it was now or never. She turned to Max, "I want to stay but I am going to go, for Sara, she is my only family and the only other person I can trust, now." Max nodded in agreement, and got into the limo, Alec looked back at Seto, she was now felt guilty, she got into the limo did not look back.