Chapter: 7

Previously: "Do not under estimate Bastet, milady." Sekhmet spat. "She may appear to be like a weak housecat but she is very strong. Bastet is not known as the goddess of protection by being a pushover."

The girl chuckled. "We're no pushovers either Sekhmet." She leapt off the building and disappeared into the darkness.

- -

Tiara woke up and felt her eyes sting after she had cried for hours. She then noticed that it was dark in the room. She rolled onto her side and saw Yami on the floor. She reached down and gently brushed a bang from his face.

He woke up and looked at her. "Are you alright Tiara?" He asked softly, being careful not to wake Solomon or Yugi.

She nodded slightly. "I forgot I fall asleep after crying for so long." She whispered.

Yami reached up with one hand and laced his fingers with hers. "You soaked my shirt you know." He teased.

Tiara blushed. "I'm sorry about that." She replied.

Yami smiled softly. "It's fine." He said. "Do you feel a little better at least?"

Tiara nodded. "But we still need to find whoever put Ana and my dad in a coma."

"I know. We will too. I promise."

Tiara cracked a small smile but it faded. "Did you know that Shadi was going to challenge me to a Shadow Game?"

Yami shook his head. "I didn't even know he was still around. He…Shadi…well…he was the guardian the Millennium Items—or something like that."

Tiara remembered all 7 Millennium Items and what each one could do—or pretty darn close to what they could do. She took a deep breath and sighed. Then she looked at the clock. "7 in the morning. When did I actually fall asleep?"

"It was two o'clock when you fell asleep." Yami sat up and released her hand. He crawled out of his sleeping bag and disappeared into the bathroom.

Tiara sat up slowly and let out a sigh. She tossed the covers off and swung her legs over the side. She shook her head slightly. She got up and headed to the bathroom despite the fact Yami was already in there.

He jumped with surprise and looked at her. Fortunately, he was just brushing his teeth.

Tiara didn't look at him. She washed her face and felt his eyes on her, but ignored it. She was pretty occupied with her own thoughts about whoever had Sekhmet. My guess is the person is a girl. She thought.

"What makes you say that Lady Tiara?" Asked Bastet.

You're my ka. Tiara answered. If Sekhmet is your opposite, the person who has her is also a girl and my opposite.

Yami finally finished brushing his teeth and sighed.

Tiara rested her head on his shoulder and sniffed. "I still wonder why I was picked over all other people." She murmured.

Yami put his arms around her. "Things happen for a reason, Tiara." He whispered to her. "I wish I could tell you differently."

Tiara closed her eyes and nodded understanding. She slipped her arms around him.

- - - - - - - -

Sekhmet appeared—only being visible to the girl she was connected to. "You are getting impatient, milady." She said. "You must be careful. Lady Tiara may take advantage of this."

The pale Egyptian girl snorted. "Whatever Sekhmet." She snapped. "I can handle it. I have an advantage over Tiara Brennan. She hasn't trained in magic when she was very young. I have." She laughed. "I will defeat her and rule this world! Not even Shadi will stand in my way!"

Sekhmet sneered. "You have learned very well, milady." She chuckled.

- - - -

Solomon, Yugi, Yami, and Tiara went to the hospital to visit Professor Brennan and Ana there. Tiara visited her father first and sat next to him. "Dad," she said, "I know you probably didn't believe me when I told you about it last year. I do have a ka and I'm sorry this happened to you." She bowed her head. "I'm also sorry about what happened last year…what I did is what I mean. I left that part out because I knew you would be angry if I told you."

There was something small and white was sticking out from Professor Brennan's hand.

Tiara saw it, reached over with one hand, and slipped the white piece of paper out of her father's hand. She carefully unfolded the paper and read it. She got frustrated. "I can read Egyptian hieroglyphs," she hissed, "not Arabic." She got up, bent over the bed, and kissed her father gently on the cheek. She then hurried out of the room with the note clutched tightly in her hand and ran down the hall to see Ana.

Unfortunately, she bumped into Yami, which made her lose the paper. "What's wrong?" He said quickly.

Tiara snatched up the paper from off the floor and held it to him—the words up so he could see. "I found this when I was in my dad's room." She explained breathlessly.

Yami stared at it for a moment. "Who are Moswen and Kanika?" He muttered.

"You can read Arabic?" Tiara asked with surprise.

Yami nodded.

"Then what does the whole thing say?" Demanded Tiara as she thrust the paper to him.

Sighing, Yami read:

As you can see, your father and precious friend are out in a coma. You'd be surprised to know how easy it was to capture their souls, especially your friend's ka. I'm assuming that you are aware the two of us must have a Duel to decide the fate of the world. Also, if I win, I get your ka and you have to tell me the name Ra gave you. I will see you in person soon, Moswen.

Kanika

Tiara remembered something from what her father told her. "They're both girl names. Moswen means 'white' and Kanika means 'black.' Am I right?"

Yami shrugged. "I guess so. They're both Egyptian, I know that much. I just want to know why this person is calling herself 'Kanika' and you 'Moswen.' Unless she's trying to distinguish the whole Yin and Yang thing with you two."

Tiara shook her head. "I need to see Ana."

Yami nodded and led her to Ana's room.

Ana was unconscious, her eyes were closed, and she had small, thin tubes in her arms.

Tiara hurried to her friend's side and took Ana's hand. She had worry and fear in her eyes. I don't know what to do. She thought. I wish you were here Ana. Right now, more than ever. She closed her eyes. Kanika is not my opposite's real name, I know that. She rested her head on Ana's shoulder and a tear escaped.

Yami placed one hand on the brunet girl's shoulder. "Tiara…" He said but hesitated.

Something in the back of her mind kept saying Chikako. Tiara opened her eyes and looked at Ana's sleeping face. She straightened, shrugged off Yami's hand, and turned to him. "I think whoever Kanika is, she challenged Ana to a Shadow Game and Ana lost."

Yami's eyes grew wide. "How do you know that?"

Tiara shook her head. "I keep hearing a name. Chikako. I think it might be connected to Ana and Otohime. Any idea what 'Chikako' means?"

Yami smiled proudly. "Chikako means 'friendly child' or 'child of a thousand joys.' I think it fits Ana since she's always friendly and joyful."

Tiara released Ana's hand, flung her arms around his neck, and smashed her lips into his.

Yami blushed with embarrassment. He closed his eyes and wrapped arms around her. His lips moved and clung to hers, returning the kiss with passion.

Tiara pulled away and blushed. "I'm sorry Yami." She whispered. She wriggled free from his arms and turned back to her best friend. "This is all my fault."

Yami shook his head. "Don't say that."

Yugi and Solomon walked into the room. "We better go." Suggested Solomon. "We need to stop whoever is causing this."

Yami turned to his grandfather and brother and nodded. He looked back to Tiara.

She nodded slowly. Then she bent over the bed and kissed Ana on the forehead. She straightened turned to them with a blank look. "Once we figure out how to stop the bitch who did this," she said flatly, "someone should stay with my father and Ana in case they wake up."

Solomon nodded understanding. "All right." He, Yugi, Yami, and Tiara left Ana's room.

- - - - - - - -

Tiara sat in the hotel room with the Muto family, studying the ancient Egyptian spell book Mahado had given her a year ago. She listened to Solomon suggest ideas to Yugi and Yami, and eventually tuned them out.

Bastet appeared—only being visible to Tiara. "Please do not be angry milady." She said calmly.

I'm not angry. Tiara lied. Why would I be angry?

"You are becoming a hollow shell since we left the hospital." Bastet replied. "Please Lady Tiara—"

Stop with the 'milady' and 'Lady Tiara.' She begged. She slammed the spell book shut and held her head in her hands. I had a normal life for at least 14 years. Then a year ago, I discover I have a ka and that I'm not normal.

Bastet sat down next to Tiara. She was silent.

I fall for a pharaoh who was dead thousands of years before I was born. Continued Tiara. I saved the world from the Devil—how that works I'll never know—and I chose to go back to my time.

Bastet looked down at the floor. "Pharaoh Atem promised that you two would meet again." She reminded.

And I did. Tiara agreed. She looked up and stared at Yami. Now and then it tears me up inside that Yami looks exactly like Atem. Yugi looks like Atem too…but not like his brother. She flopped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Bastet, I've fallen for Yami Muto and I can't help it. I'm in love with him. What am I going to do?

Bastet smiled. "Do what you do best milady."

A smile cracked Tiara's rosy lips. And what's that?

"Hold on for one more day."

Tiara's smile widened. That's actually a song, but thank you Bastet. I'm glad to have met you.

"And I am glad to be your ka and your partner."

Tiara slowly drifted to sleep and Bastet disappeared.

Solomon looked at her. He smiled slightly.

Yami picked Tiara up, lied her down properly, and covered her with the blanket on the bed.

Tiara's cell phone suddenly buzzed since it was on vibrate.

Yami picked it up, flipped it open, and put it to his ear. "Hello?" He asked. He was silent at first. "Yes. I see. All right. Thank you. Goodbye." He hung up and was silent for a long moment. "A girl named Asrar knows the real identity of Kanika."

"What did she say?" Asked Yugi.

"To meet us in the morning at the lobby." Yami answered. "She says she's Kanika's twin sister." He looked at Tiara's sleeping face. "And she also says she knows about Bastet and Sekhmet."

"What does Asrar mean again?" Solomon quizzed knowing Yami's knowledge about the Arabic language.

"Asrar is Arabic meaning 'secret,' grandpa."

Character Chat

Tiara: All right dragonchild247. The suspense is bothering me. What is Kanika's real name?

dragonchild247: I'm not telling you. *grin* Then it would be no fun if I told you now.

Yami: And what's up with Asrar?

dragonchild247: That's for me to know and for you guys to find out. *chuckles evilly*