Chapter 4 - Let's Begin

Obsidian paused with her hand an inch away from the door knob. Something tickled the edges of her senses. Dark energy. Something was wrong. She opened the door.

The interior of the store was dark. The lights had all been blown out. Puzzles, games, and shattered glass lay scattered across the floor. A fight had taken place here.

THUMP!

Her eyes jumped to the stairs. The fight had moved up one floor. She moved across the floor, making no sound. Up the stairs, to the family room.

Her mother lay on the floor unmoving with a cloaked figure standing above her. Her father faced another figure, one which held a device that radiated dark energies.

Obsidian charged into the room. "Down." she said. Yugi immediately dropped to the floor. Obsidian lunged over him and kicked the intruder in the chest. It fell back and jerked when Obsidian landed on it's chest. She felt bones cracking under her studded leather boots.

She turned at the sound of a grunt. Her father was grappling with the other figure. He was holding his own despite the fact that he wasn't a fighter. She moved to help him. Suddenly, Yugi lost his footing and the figure shoved Yugi into Obsidian.

Her fathers 6'2" frame knocked Obsidian to the ground. Yugi scrambled off his daughter, who was unphased by the collision. Flipping onto her hands and knees, she saw that the first cloaked figure had picked up her mother and its fallen comrade. Obsidian lunged, attempting to get her mother, but the figure activated something. The energy threw Obsidian into her father. When she regained her feet both the intruders and her mother were gone.

For several moments neither moved, neither spoke. Obsidian was the first to do something. She righted the upended couch and moved it back into the correct position. Yugi, taking a cue from his daughter, began to pick up the many scattered items that had been tossed during the fight.

When they had finished the living room, they headed down stairs to the shop. Yugi opened his mouth, but closed it when Obsidian shook her head. Obsidian began picking up the various game and puzzle pieces, while Yugi started to sweep up the glass.

After a couple of minutes the door opened. Yami and Jackson stood there. After a moment Yami went over to the pile of various cards Obsidian had gathered and began to sort them. Jackson started placing game pieces on their correct game board.

Again, several minutes passed. The next to arrive were Josh and Kía. Josh went to the puzzle pieces and began sorting them into the appropriate boxes. Kía joined Jackson in sorting game pieces.

Several more minutes and Mana and Will arrived. Mana assisted Yami in sorting cards, Will helped Josh organize puzzles. Once Obsidian had finished picking items up off the floor, she helped Yugi clean up the remaining glass.

Eventually, everything was sorted, cleaned, and put away. Obsidian led the way upstairs. She pointed to the living room and the others filed in, finding seats. Obsidian went to the kitchen and made chai. When she walked into the living room with her tray, she saw a dismal sight. Her friends and her father were all in shock. She set down her tray and gave a cup to each of them. Obsidian then sat in her chair, a black wing-back armchair that she had embroidered herself with gold and silver dragons. Due to its unique design, it had become the unintentional focus of the room.

"Your homes have been trashed and your parents are missing." Obsidian stated. When the others stared at her she simply stated, "I sensed your distress."

"What-what happened?" Will asked. Obsidian looked to her father, so the others did too.

Yugi rubbed his hand over his face. "They walked in the door, like any customer. Tea had just gotten home from rehearsal. One of them grabbed Tea. Tea kicked him and he stumbled back. The other released a blast of dark energy. I countered with wind, slamming them both against the shelves.

"Tea and I ran upstairs, into the living room. Tea grabbed a lamp off the end table. I grabbed 'Dian's practice staff out of her room. I broke it, by the way. Over one of their heads. I can't really describe the fight.

"Just before 'Dian came in the room, one of them pulled an object out. It shoved the object in Tea's face and it flashed. I heard her scream, but her mouth didn't open. She collapsed to the ground, her eyes open and sightless.

"The one who had the object tossed it to the one I was fighting with. He shoved it in my face. It was gold with an emblem engraved into it. (See authors note at end of chapter.)

I threw my arms over my face and shut my eyes, hoping to block its effects. That's when 'Dian came in." Yugi looked at his daughter.

Obsidian was staring into space. "Sylvinia (sil-V-knee-ah)." The others jumped when she spoke.

"Yes, Obsidian." They jumped again at the sound of the female voice coming from the ceiling.

"Run a search of the emblem. I want to know who it belongs to."

"Yes, Obsidian. Searching… *ding* Emblem found. Owner: Mikhail Darklord. Demon. Type: Soul Stealer."

Mana and Kia gasped. Yugi looked like he might hurl. Yami paled. Will, Josh, and Jackson were confused.

"I suspected as much." Obsidian stated. "What class?"

"Mikhail Darklord can remove souls from their body and use them as an energy source. This can be traumatizing to the soul, but does not kill it. He is first class."

Obsidian sat silently for several moments. "Why does he need the body?"

"He doesn't. A soulless body does provide a link to its missing soul, however. If used correctly, the link can be used to return the soul."

"Where does he keep them? Souls and bodies."

"Bodies are stored in various lairs. The location of the souls, however, is unknown."

"Best guess."

"I do not guess. However, basic logic indicates that a soul would be best stored in the Afterlife. The only portal to the Afterlife accessible by living humans is in Egypt. It is guarded by the Eye of Truth, which only awakens in the presence of the seven Millennium Items."

"But the Items fell into the ground when the cavern collapsed." Yugi said.

"Then I will just have to get them back out." Obsidian said.

"What are you saying, 'Dian?" Yami demanded.

"I am going to go into the Afterlife. I will not leave our families to the mercy of a demon."

"I'm going, too." declared Mana, "I'm not letting 'Dian go after a demon by herself."

Yami shook his head. "We will all go." He looked at each them. "'Dian is our friend. We will always back her up, just as she does for us. Besides, all our families are at stake here."

They all nodded. "We're all in this together." Yugi said.

Obsidian bowed her head in acceptance. "Sylvinia."

"Yes, Obsidian."

"Get us a trip to Cairo, Egypt."

"Yes, Ob-"

"Wait!" Yami said.

"Yes, Darkrai."

"Call Kaiba Corp. In the absence of my father and Mokuba, I have authority. So we can use the jet."

"Yes, Darkrai. Shall I contact Ishizu, for transportation down river?"

"Yes." Obsidian said. "Tell her that the homes need to be cleaned and that it would be greatly appreciated if she would watch Kaiba Corp and our game store."

"Yes, Obsidian. I have received conformation from Kaiba Corp. Your flight shall depart from Kaiba Corps private runway at 9:30pm. Ishizu Ishtar shall meet you at the airport in Cairo."

"Thank-you, Sylvinia." The group sat there, unsure what to do next. Obsidian rose from her seat. "I am going to go do research. I advise that you prepare for our journey. Keep this in mind; danger will be a close companion on this trip. And it will be danger on a whole new level. We shall meet at Kaiba Corp at 9:20."

With that she left the room.


At 9:15, Yami, Mana, Will, Josh, Kia, and Jackson were at Kaiba Corp.

Yami was wearing a white t-shirt with a thick red stripe and dark blue jeans. On his left arm was his duel disk, a gift from his fathers. It was a custom design based off Yami's favorite monster, the Summoned Skull. He wore a plain brown leather choker and a plain brown leather belt. His short sword was hooked to his belt. At first glance, there was nothing fancy about it besides the emerald embedded in the base of the pommel. However, the blade was one of the finest. A present from Mana.

Mana herself was wearing a frilly outfit of the palest blue. Around her neck on a silver chain, was an blue opal heart. It had been a gift from Yami. Her duel disk was also latched onto her left arm. While shut, it looked like a lowered fish fin. It was a gift from Obsidian. It's design was a tribute to her affinity for water. However, it was varying shades of red and pink. To match her eyes, Obsidian had told her.

Will was wearing gray jeans and a white and purple striped shirt. His duel disk was hooked to his left arm and his long sword was on his left hip.

Josh was wearing a pair of black jeans and a dark gray shirt with the phrase "I don't get even. I get odder." written on it. The only other item he wore was his duel disk.

His sister, Kia, wore a flowing outfit of various shades of brown and green. Her duel disk was attached to her left arm, but like Mana and Josh, she bore no weapon. As Mana was a Water Warrior and Josh was a Metal Molder, Kia was an Earth Enchanter.

Jackson wore a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt. Over his shirt he wore a black vest. His duel disk was attached to his arm and his double daggers were easily accessible on his hips.

"Ah! Where are they!" Josh exclaimed in frustration. He paced, anxious to be off.

"Relax, man. Has 'Dian ever been late?" Yami pointed out.

Josh stopped pacing for a moment. "No, she hasn't. She's always the first on here! You wanna tell me to relax, when our families where just snatched out from under our noses!"

Will wrapped his arms around Josh. "That's not what Yami is trying to say, Josh. He is simply asking you to be patient. If 'Dian isn't here by 9:20, we'll go look for here, okay?" Josh didn't like the waiting, but agreed.

At 9:20, one of the guardsman turned to Yami. "Sir, Mr. Mutou and his daughter have arrived on the premises and are headed this way now." Yami nodded his thanks.

Yugi wore his usual leather attire. However, Tea had gotten him into wearing more colors than black. He wore black leather pants and his double wrap studded black belt. His leather sleeveless shirt was a sky blue. His duel disk was latched onto his left arm and his studded black choker was around his neck. He wore no weapon for he was a Wind Wielder.

Obsidian had inherited her fathers taste for leather. Black was her main color. The difference between her and Yugi's belt and choker was the color of the studs. Yugi wore silver studs, while Obsidian wore gold. Over her black leather pants and black sleeveless shirt (which was actually cotton by the way) she wore her black leather, gold studded, sleeveless trench coat.

On her arms were unique items. They appeared to by bracers, but both the left and right had interesting tricks. The right arm bore a set of daggers that she could throw or use at close range. The left was actually her duel disk. The final item for her hands was a black talon that resided on her left middle finger. Though it looked like metal it was in fact obsidian. A black glass gemstone that is formed in volcanoes. To top of the intimidating sight that she made, her huge claymore was slung across her back. Mana, who had been as worried as Josh, ran up to Obsidian and jumped on her, giving her a tight hug as she tried to calm her heart down. Obsidian held her and looked at the rest of the group.

"Let us begin, shall we?"


Authors Note: I need an idea! I can't think of a good symbol for a soul stealing demon. Send me an idea, I might use it!