Author's note: Yup, this is the sequel to The Fear! I won't explain much in this disclaimer because they'll probably be explained in the story, but we do have a time skip of twenty-one years. This means everyone is an adult and some of the characters have children. The story will explain how Yami Marik came back and possibly have scenes with Tenionia and Zireria. Well, that's all I really wanted to say. I enjoyed work on The Fear and I look forward to working on this one too

The song is Beautiful Cruel world by Yoko Hikasa. This is the English version by Adrisaurus. Review please!

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh and I never will. I also do not own Elecktra, Simon, Amba, and Arek. They belong to the awesome Sorceress of the Nile who is kind enough to let me borrow them :)

There's a dream my heart just can't seem to leave behind,

Like a flower holding on for life inside my mind,

Time and again I push it away from me,

But it finds a way back in sleep

I remember it like it was yesterday; though it was countless moons ago. I was hardly five years old when he rose into power. My father, Marik Ishtar, had been defeated by his darker half. Everyone thought it had disappeared during the Battle City finals, but that was apparently not the case. He returned, and quickly with his dark powers, brought Japan down to its knees. Other countries soon followed, surrendering so that they would not be destroyed or encased in darkness like some of the others.

I remember watching the news in our secret hideout in Egypt. Unlike some of the others, Egypt had not fallen. The Pharaoh Atem had returned to from afterlife, completely surprised that something like this would happen. Slowly, over the course of the years, he's been raising a resistance group in retaliation. Unlike the last time he'd fought my father's dark half, he was stronger this time. The Pharaoh could not take him down so easily. He had to retreat, claiming that this form of him had new powers; powers he didn't have previously. And he had a partner. A man who tended to wear a black trench coat and hair that was so long and white that it rivaled death. Supposedly he had chosen to join the dark one to have his revenge against the Pharaoh. Mama said he had a wife, but she soon disappeared after he joined my father's dark side.

I must leave you for now, journal. It's been at least two days since I've turned thirteen. In that time, mama has been gone for at least a month now. She's never missed a birthday before, but that's not what I'm worried about. No one's heard where she's been and her whereabouts are unknown. I know she's not dead; I would have sensed it, but it's unlike her not to write or use magic to send us a message.

Until next time, journal.

Yours truly, Amba Ishtar

Amba sighed; closing the leather bound book and sticking it back under her pillow. She lay back on her bed, staring up at the stone ceiling. The clock near her bed ticked away, but that didn't help the growing restlessness inside of her. It was true, although the tomb keepers had left their old lifestyle; small improvements to their old home had been made. They had a small t.v, nothing too big or fancy, but it was still alright. She got to have things in her room, as did her younger brother, and she was allowed to go outside. With another magician, but at least she still got to leave. Her father hadn't had that luxury.

Her brow furrowed at the thought of her father. She'd been thinking about him a lot as of late. She'd only been five years old when her mother had put them into hiding. That was eight years ago, and the more she got older, the more the memories of their happy times were starting to blur. Only by looking at the photo on her nightstand could she remember his face.

It was worse for her younger brother, Arek. He was only two and had no memory of him. He didn't have a very high view of their father, and though she knew she shouldn't blame him, she was annoyed by that fact. Their father was a good man! The damn spirit controlling him was evil! As well as the man he was working with.

"Knock, knock!"

Arek stood behind the door, grinning goofily at her. She smiled, despite feeling utterly bored. "You can come in," she said, motioning him to come in. "I'm not doing anything important."

"I can see that," he replied, sitting on the bed next to her. "Any word from Mama yet?"

"No," she sighed. "That makes day thirty four of no Mama."

"I'm sure she'll be here today," he continued on, despite her giving him an odd look. "I can feel it, you know? And you know my sense of intuition is never wrong!"

"I didn't know you had one," she teased, giving him a little shove. "Who knew you were so blessed with such a great gift."

"Hey!"

He scowled a little, small pout forming on the almost- ten year old's lips. "She isn't gone forever like Father," he huffed. "She's going to come back."

"Papa isn't gone forever!" she protested, standing from her bed. "How many times do Mama and I have to tell you? Even Aunt Isis and Uncle Rashid will agree with me!"

"And what about Uncle Simon? He agrees with me!"

"Just because you didn't know him doesn't mean he's lost," she grabbed the picture frame from her nightstand, holding it tightly. "You were only two. You don't have any memories of the good times. He loved us, Arek. He truly did."

Arek just snorted, eyes growing heavy. "Yeah, well, look what he's doing now. If he's as powerful as Mama says he is, then why hasn't he stopped the bad thing inside of him? If he did it once, why doesn't he do it again? Why?"

"I don't know," she sighed, taking his hand into hers. "Pharaoh Atem helped him the last time and he said there is something different about the spirit. It's like he's stronger, more dangerous and insane."

He rolled his eyes, nodding begrudgingly in agreement. The mood was now somber, doing nothing to help her already bad mood. "Do you want to see if Simon made some snacks?" she asked, smiling softly as he perked up. "I know he said something about making cookies the other day. We finally have enough rations for them!"

"We do? Then let's go ask!"

He pulled her hand, making a beeline for the kitchen. If there was one thing she was sure about, was her little brother's sweet tooth. He could pinpoint sweets and candy from a mile away. Sure enough, a warm smell was coming from the kitchen, and she could feel her mouth water at the scents of cinnamon and sugar.

"Cinnamon cookies," Arek licked his lips. "And they're fresh too."

"Genius observation."

"Thank you."

If Uncle Simon knew they were there, he didn't say anything until he turned around. "Hey kids," he smiled, a few of the worry lines around his eyes lightening. "I assume you're here for the cookies?"

"Yeah!" They both exclaimed simultaneously.

He continued to smile, shaking his head. "Well, it has been a year since I made some. We used most of the rations to make you a cake, Amba."

"Thank you, Uncle Simon," she said sweetly, grabbing a cookie from the plate on the table. "Where is everyone at? It's really quiet today."

"Well, a few of the others went on a scouting mission to see how the other countries are doing. As you know, magicians from all over the world and from different cultures are working together. Apparently Croatia surrendered just a few days ago and Yami Marik's followers are rounding up magicians there."

Arek swallowed, chewing his cookie slowly. "What do they do to the prisoners?"

"Kill them, or lock them in the shadow realm," he didn't sugarcoat the truth, and to be honest, she was glad he didn't. "If the magicians are lucky, they'll escape to the nearest country that isn't controlled by Marik. Unfortunately, Croatia is surrounded by countries that have already fallen."

"Will Egypt fall?" she asked, biting her lip. "If Egypt falls, what will happen to us? He'd kill us, wouldn't he?"

"Now, now," he patted her head, stroking her long black hair affectionately. "Neither me, your aunt and uncle, or your mother would ever let him hurt you. We'd die before anything like that could ever happen."

"I wish Mama would come home," Arek sulked, reaching for his third cookie. "I miss her. There was a snake in my room yesterday and I thought of her."

Uncle Simon held back a laugh, obviously finding it funny that that was the memory he'd chosen to remember their mother by. "Yeah, she's terrified of snakes. Ever since she found one in her sock drawer as a little kid."

"Was it venomous?" she asked, now curious.

"No, but it did give her a fright. She grabbed the broom from your grandmother's hands and started beating the crap out her dresser. Eventually your grandfather managed to get it away from her and released the snake back into him wild. I've never seen a snake slither as fast as that one did."

He smiled fondly, before shaking his head to shake the memory off. "Anyway, speaking of your mother, she's on her way home."

"She is?" both she and Arek glanced at each other in excitement. "When? How far is she? Why didn't she call us? Why was she away for so long?"

He held up his hands. "Whoa there, one question at a time," he waited until they were both quiet. "She should be here pretty soon. I don't know how far away, but she will be here before dinner. I can't tell you why she was away because I myself do not know what the mission was about. I know it was pretty important to her and that's what she told me."

"Well I wish she would hurry up," Arek crossed his arms. "There's been nothing to do. I'm so bored up staying in this stupid place all day."

"You're beginning to sound like your father," Simon grumbled, eyes narrowing as he put the mixing bowl in the sink. Arek didn't hear what he said, but she did. She glanced down at the table, not sure what to do. She was aware of how her Uncle felt about her father, but didn't know if she should say anything. He was an adult after all. "What's with the long face, Amba?"

"Oh!" she perked up, plastering a fake smile on. "It's nothing; just thinking."

"Well don't hurt your head," he teased, putting soap in the hot water. "You'll end up all wrinkly like your mother."

"I am not wrinkly!"

The sound of their mother's voice lifted her spirit. She and Arek rushed from their chairs, tackling the green eyed woman in a hug. She laughed, pressing them close to her and kissed their heads. "How have my babies been?" she asked, and Amba didn't even think of telling her she wasn't a baby. "Were you two good while I was away?"

"Yup," Arek answered. "We've missed you Mama! Why were you away for so long?"

Her mother's eyes met Simon's and the man shook his head. She then returned her gaze to theirs. "I was away scouting. I didn't want you two to know that so you wouldn't get too worried. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course," she hugged her mother again, though her instincts were telling her that there was more to the story then she let on. She released her mother, grabbing a cookie from the table. "Do you want a cookie?"

"Thank you," she took it before walking over to Simon. "Seto informs us that Marik suspects nothing."

"How he is still allowed to keep his company is a mystery," Simon shook his head. "How is Japan?"

Her mother glanced towards her and her brother, shaking her head quickly. "I'll tell you later. Right now, there are some things that must be done," she walked out of the kitchen, disappearing for a few minutes before returning. "Simon, Amba, Arek. There are some people I want you to meet."

Two children, not much younger than her, stood very close towards one another. They both had cream colored skin and the same nose and chin, but other than that, they were different. The girl was short, with intense blue eyes that reminded her of someone, but she couldn't say who. Her hair was short and white, the bangs pulled to the left by two clips. The boy had brown eyes that looked gentle, but he looked very distant. His hair was short; unruly and as dark as his eyes.

Arek looked towards their mother. "Mama, who are they?" he asked. "Do we have long-lost siblings?"

Their mother just smiled tersely. "No," she stepped behind the two kids, pushing them forward gently. "Amba, Arek, this is Akio and…Rin...Mazaki."

"Hello," the girl, Rin, softly greeted while her brother just nodded. He continued to look impassive, but when she caught his gaze, he blushed and looked away. She flushed a light pink, opting to stare at the wall.

Amba glanced at them shyly. "Hi."

"Why don't you show them to your rooms. Rin will be in your room, Amba and Akio will be in yours Arek."

"Okay," Arek glanced towards the taller boy. "Come on; I'll show you where it is."

Rin just followed Amba out of the room, not saying anything the whole time. Why this girl and her brother were here, she didn't know. Thye didn't look special; they appeared to be regular children, but she knew better than to think that. If anything, she felt like this girl was silently studying her. When she opened the door to her room, the girl immediately flopped on her bed. Rude, but since they had to share now, what could she do?"

"So," she began, trying to think of something to say. "What's Japan like?"

"Cold," the girl replied, staring intently at the wall. "And dark. It's been a while since I've seen the sun."

She leaned forward a little, curiosity now piqued. "Is it true there are spirits from the Shadow realm loose there?"

If anything, Rin just leaned back farther on the bed. "Yeah," she said in a horse whisper. "Lots and lots of spirits."

She didn't say anything more. She just wrapped the blanket around her small frame, resting her head on her knees. Amba just sighed, heading towards the door. "I'm going back to the kitchen," she looked towards the girl. "Do you need anything?"

Rin shook her head. "No."

Amba nodded, slowly closing the door behind her and leaning against it. She let out a sigh, wondering why on earth these two kids were here. They couldn't be that special. Could they?


(Elecktra's p.o.v)

"Sis, I know that you mean well and all, but won't this make Bakura mad?"

Elecktra set down her coffee cup, gazing moodily at the fire Simon had started. "He doesn't even know where they are. If he wanted to find them so badly, he would have done it already. Face it, he probably doesn't care," she lifted the coin around her neck, sighing deeply. "Besides, you should have seen Japan."

He leaned forward, setting his cup back on the coffee table. "How bad is it?"

"It's so dark," she shivered. "And cold. There was hardly any life, Simon. People were afraid to leave their houses. I found Jounouchi and Mai; they're trying to get out of Japan to help the Pharaoh. I don't know where Honda and Shizuka are, but Jou assured me they're alive. Otogi; I have no idea."

"Is he dead?"

"Maybe. There's no way of knowing."

Simon glanced towards the vacant table to the right, where dinner had been served two hours before. "Those two kids, how were they when you found them? Thye seem pretty shell-shocked."

"They were like all the other kids at that Orphanage. Terrified to go outside and possibly get eaten by monsters. The other kids seemed to be wary of them, claiming they're weird. I think their just like crocuses. They don't yet realize it's safe for them to come out," she held up a hand before her brother could interrupt. "What I meant to say was they haven't been around people who aren't afraid of Marik. They don't know how to act around normal kids yet, but I think they'll learn pretty quickly."

Simon nodded. "The girl, from what I could tell at dinner, looks like a little spit-fire. Her brother's too quiet."

"They have abilities; that I'm sure of," she crossed her arms, leaning her head back on the couch. "I just don't know what they are yet."

"I'm sure you'll find out."

"I can only hope, Simon," she looked down at the floor. "I just wish their mother was here. She's been away for far too long."