The fading surge of adrenaline has Kaiba feeling like he'd just run a marathon. He looks down at his trembling hands in disbelief, then back up at Zahra, still staring at him. He straightens his posture and looks back, defiant. He'd prove himself yet.

And then it's over. They turn away, and he exhales. Kisara the Pikachu jumps into his arms and he gives her a little nuzzle, but then the voice cuts across his consciousness and he stands still.

Now, one would think he'd immediately latch onto any crumb of approval from Atem. And you'd be right. But the name that immediately precedes that grips his mind, and he latches onto it.

"Noa's still alive? Or... his consciousness still exists?"

His tone is largely one of disbelief, but the emotions flickering through him are hard to grasp. He hadn't thought about his stepbrother much...but Noa had been so young when his body died. And whatever atrocities he'd committed at Gozaburo's urging, how could Seto of all people condemn a person for being warped by that monster?

Not that things would be all peachy between them. Noa putting his trauma on public display had been one of the most humiliating experiences of his life. But from the way Zahra had phrased the message...and from what Seto remembered hearing from Mokuba...was it possible Noa had mastered the change of heart before he himself did?

Clearly, there was still more he had to learn.

"Zahra. I guess I'll see you later. And...if you ever have the time, Noa, I'd like to see you too."

There's just the beginnings of a terrible idea slotting together in his mind.