~Gonna really try not to deviate from the original story concepts I had planned for this. I have to lock my inner fangirl away. Yes at my age she still does exist and she has the mental capacity and hormone level of a 13 year old who daydreams about Dan Green's booming Yami voice. Anyhoo the Ishtars make an appearance in this chapter. I love the characters of this story and the Egyptian theme and all that but come one Kazuki Takahashi was selling a card game. He sold out his characters at one point and the story just went bonkers with DUELING. I am NOT going to have long draw out explanations of epic strategy duels in my story. Forget it, get over, cry me a river. I'm going to try to give these characters more depth then card toting morons like the manga and show made them out to be. Don't get me wrong the ancient dueling and sorcery is BADASS the card game kinda gets lame after awhile. I tried rewatching all 5 seasons of 4Kids YGO and I fastforwarded through 20 mins of each episode. I'm sitting here thinking okay...just punch the dude and you've won. Why does EVERYTHING have to end up with a duel? Hate me if you want but come one it gets cheesy after awhile. I have big big big plans for this I think you're going to like. Once again NO COUPLES. Kiley can meet other men and talk to them without being a whore. She still totally has the hots for Yugi, hates Yami's guts, and is kind like OH wow Malik you're kind hot. And yes I say Malik...NOT Marik. Get over that too. Anyways enjoy. Thank you for the reviews and favs and all that snazz!~


Part II

Chapter 7

Kiley went to the corporate party her mother insisted she come too. It was on a yacht off an island in the middle of nowhere owned by her mother's employer Maximllion Pegasus. She had met the man her mother was working for and if he didn't insist on telling her about his deceased wife then she would have thought the man as queer as a three dollar bill. He dressed like something out of where the Victorian Era met Willy Wonka. He had an overabundance of energy and a rather creepy smile. Kiley couldn't say she was honestly impressed or comfortable with the man. Her mother tried to explain he was a man of great wealth and class and his odd nature was from the freedoms he was accustomed too. Pegasus was in fact a gentleman but a quirky one at that. He seemed to hold her mother in high regard though and Taeko seemed to hold a soft spot for him.

Kiley had made her presence rather vague after the necessary introductions and stayed at a table by herself most of the night reading a book she had snuck in her bag without her mother knowing. She soon felt a presence plop down nearby and looked up to see a messy black haired boy about eleven or so sitting next to her. He introduced himself as Mokuba and grinning ear to ear asked her if she wanted to hang out. Kiley looked around for any parent and saw none and the boy soon started chatting up a storm. He turned out to be a hyper but sweet kid. After a few minutes talking she found out he was in her same position drug to a party not of his choosing and bored to tears.

Kiley's people skills had never really been that good. A habit she had developed when her parent's had divorced and her brother had moved out. As she traveled with her mother she made new friends and the habit seemed to lessen more and more. Meeting new people was awkward sometimes but she overcame that hurdle easily. It was really on the bottom line trust issues. Mokuba didn't seem to care she was trying to ignore him he busied himself with some kind of hand held game. She asked him to mute it and he just seemed to be too immersed in it to hear her. Kiley tried to ignore the beeping and vibrating object before she literally reached over snatching it. He gave a cry of protest trying to grasp it back from her. Her mistake was putting hand on his shoulder to hold him back as she prepared to lecture him when about fifty men in black suits and sunglasses surrounded them. It was actually five but enough to make her freeze immediately. They asked her to remove her hand immediately from his being.

Mokuba smirked and told them to back off as Kiley looked around in worry. Turns out it was Seto Kaiba's little brother, THE Seto Kaiba youngest CEO in the world and main shareholder of Kaiba Corp. Mokuba had a personal guard detail and touching him was a big "No-no". It didn't stop her though from telling him to put a sock in it if he wanted to hang out with her but she made a mental note not to touch him again for fear of the return of the men in black. So he muted his game and they returned to their occasional conversation without any more interruptions at least until Seto Kaiba came to collect his brother.

Kiley had never seen someone so stern and cold in her life. He made the spirit of the puzzle look like the Easter Bunny in comparison. If you were to take a statue and bring it to life that would be Seto Kaiba. He had dark blue eyes that matched his little brother's that could pierce you like a bullet. He had asked who she was and she introduced herself and recognizing her name he seemed to stare at her and make a mental note.

"I hope Mokuba was not a bother." He said curtly in a perfect tone as if someone had programmed him

"No. Not really." she said

"Hey Seto. Since my nanny quit why don't you hire Kiley to watch me? She's cool."

"I highly doubt she is qualified." He said

"I'm not." She said not taking offense at all. Nanny? Really? Who even decided that was to be their ideal career goal?

"Awe." Mokuba said disappointed "but Seto the ones you pick are always so BORING."

"We will discuss this further on the way home. Say goodbye Mokuba."

"It was nice meeting you Mokuba try not to let those video games rot your brain. Try reading more books." She said teasing the young boy smiling

The young boy smiled back "Yeah right. I'm a genius I don't need to read books."

"Yeah I'm sure." She said with a sigh at the ego the boy had at such a young age

"Ms. Tomoe. Have a good evening." Seto said bowing his head

"BYE!" Mokuba said loudly waving

Kiley nodded back and then waved to Mokuba and watched the two brothers go. Kiley had wanted to resume reading her book but her mother found her. Taeko gave her the stink eye seeing her trying to quickly slip her novel back into her bag.

"Kiley Renee' Tomoe." She said in a low voice

"Sorry. I'm bored." Kiley said pouting

Taeko sighed "Well come on I want you to meet someone. They're closer to your age and very interesting too." Taeko said motioning her to come

"They're not a CEO or anything are they?"

"No. One is an Egyptologist and her younger brother. He's around your age and since you always reading those history novels I thought you might be interested in meeting her." Taeko said

Kiley shrugged arms crossed and walking after her mother none too thrilled about having to meet anyone else to be honest. Although she had to admit she had never met and Egyptologist before. Kiley was tired and the stupid ballerina flats Kisa had talked her into buying were pinching her toes. Being dragged into the crowd of fifty or so people Kiley grabbed her mother's wrist so she didn't lose her. Taeko's fingers linked around her own intertwining their fingers. Kiley hadn't held her mother's hand in years it was a nice feeling. She looked at Taeko and realized despite being thirty-eight years old she was a beautiful woman. Her mother had always been pretty and Kiley always wished she looked more like her. Her brother was the one who got more of her looks he was tall, olive complected, with sharp brown eyes. Kiley took after her father and the only thing she and her mother shared was their height.

"Awe there you are Kiley I was wondering where you had wondered off too." Pegasus greeted her

"S-sorry I was just..." Kiley tried to explain

"You got bored around us old fuddy duddies that is quite understandable. Let me introduce you to two of my special guests." Pegasus chuckled

Kiley cringed as he linked an arm around her and pulled her close. She looked at her mother for help but she only smiled at her letting the torment commence. Kiley's cheeks burned crimson as she faced a small group of people. Some of them were just more tuxedo clones that had no significance but Kiley was surprised to see the two standing off to the side they

One was a tall exotically beautiful woman with striking blue eyes with copper toned skin. The most surprising thing honestly was her traditional Eastern dress and gold ornamental jewelry. She wore a white veil that matched her equally white dress offsetting her coppery skin nicely. She wore no makeup at all, not that she needed makeup at all, and she was by far one of the most beautiful women Kiley had ever seen. Beside her was a teenaged boy with a frown on his face with similar facial features and skin tone but his eyes were lighter and his hair was a platinum blonde. He too was dressed in a garb of what an Arabic man would wear with a light tunic and matching pants. He only wore golden earrings and not the vast array of jewelry the woman wore. The thing though was this young man had dark lines etched onto his cheeks below his eyes she wondered if they were tattooed or if they were eye liner.

"Kiley I would like you to meet Ishizu Ishtar and her brother Malik Ishtar. They are from Egypt and my honored guests." He said

"It's nice to meet you." Kiley said

"It is indeed a pleasure. Your mother was speaking fondly of you earlier." Ishizu said smiling at her and speaking in perfect Japanese with a small accent

"All good things I promise." Taeko said smiling

"Kiley loves history, or so Taeko tells me."

"Do you?" Ishizu asked

"Yes. It's mostly fictionalized novels though." Kiley admitted wondering if someone like Ishizu, and Egyptologist, would think it silly.

"Any type of reading is good. I can recommend a few actual historically accurate works you may enjoy. I've come across them in my work." Ishizu offered

"I'd like that. Thank you." Kiley said smiling but her eyes drifted back to Malik who hadn't said a word since they were introduced.

Malik remained silent staring at her and Kiley looked back at him awkwardly. "Malik please greet Kiley." Ishizu insisted glaring at him subtly at his lack of manners.

He sighed hard "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He said in a forced tone

"I do believe Malik is a young man of few words." Pegasus mused

"Malik is just unused to these types of affairs. He does not often travel far from home." Ishizu explained

"Do you live in Egypt?" Kiley asked curious more directed at Ishizu

"Of course. Where else would we live?" Malik said answering instead of his sister

"Malik." Ishizu said frowning not liking her brother's tone he had been in sour spirits the entire visit

"I was just curious. A lot of Egyptologists live in England too. Or so I've heard." Kiley said in quick reply

"You mean the people who pretend they know about Egypt and who have stolen and practically destroyed our culture?" He asked with a heavy tone of sarcasm

"I don't think they've stolen anything." Kiley said

"Don't be naive. How do you explain price less artifacts ending up thousands of miles of away in a museum instead of their homeland?" Malik asked

"Maybe years ago that happened but nowadays they're working to preserve cultures not harm them. The museums I've been too are nice." Kiley snapped back

"Justify it anyway you like. At the end of the day you are one more tourist who has paid one more dollar." He said with a scowl

"Malik!" Ishizu snapped angrily

Kiley was shocked at the offensive tone. "Excuse me."

Taeko started after her a little taken back by the attitude from the young man but Pegasus grasped her arm to stop her. "Malik I do not know what your ideas in your culture are of how to treat young ladies are. However as my guest you will exercise proper manners and young ladies are to be treated with the utmost respect. I ask that you apologize to Kiley immediately."

"I agree." Ishizu said

Malik sighed "Fine."

Kiley looked over the railing at the setting sun at the same spot she was before when she had met Mokuba. She wished she was back in Domino and she wished she was with Yugi instead of here with these awful people. Ishizu seemed nice but Malik was a jerk so she came to find out. He had practically attacked her verbally and embarrassed her in front of everyone. For someone so attractive he sure was a sour puss. She as honestly beginning to wonder why it was she seemed to be around nothing but irritable attractive men? She heard someone clear their throat and turning there was Malik looking still angry and awkward.

"Can I help you?" she asked none to enthused to be in his haughty presence again

"I came to apologize. Apologize for my behavior." He said

"Apology accepted. Thank you." she said curtly before turning back to the railing intent on ignoring him

"I-I'm not used to being around strangers." She heard him admit.

She turned back to face him hearing his words his features had softened slightly and he seemed truly uncomfortable "It's okay. I can understand."

"My sister, Ishizu made me come here. I didn't want too." He explained sighing

"Really? Well my mom did the same to me." she said

"She thinks I need to be more social." Malik said walking closer to the railing and leaning on it beside her a few feet away

"You could use a little work. Mom drug me out here to meet her boss. He's nice but he's a complete fruit cake." Kiley said

She was surprised to hear him laugh. Kiley looked over at him and he was smiling slightly and his very exotic and handsome features softened "Pegasus...is a little odd."

"A little? That's being nice." She said laughing

"Your mother is kind. Maybe she sees something in him we are missing." he offered

"Mom is nice but don't let her fool you. I think she likes the quirky dude." Kiley said

"You're a strange girl." he said smiling amused by her spirit

"Well you're not exactly normal yourself there." Kiley said annoyed at his accusation eyes falling on his robes

"That is the truth my culture compared to yours is worlds apart. A woman would not dare speak her mind as you do." Malik said

"Ishizu seems pretty independent." Kiley countered

"Maybe to you." He said and Kiley saw an odd looks in his eye

"So...how do you speak Japanese so well?" she asked changing the subject

"I learned. I speak several languages." Malik said

"Wow. Why so many?" she asked curious

"My father insisted." Malik said with a frown

"Did you go to school?" Kiley asked wondering what type of schools there were in Egypt or if he went to boarding school

"No. I was privately tutored at home."

"Oh man. Is that why Ishizu is so young and an Egyptologist?" Kiley said knowing that sometimes privately schooled student skipped years.

"Yes. She went to University at the age of fifteen and she just graduated two years ago she's twenty-five." Malik told her proving her thoughts correct

"Wow what is that a doctorate at twenty-three." Kiley asked impressed

"No. Ph.D." Malik corrected

"Holy shit." Kiley cussed in English earning an odd stare from Malik he knew many languages but not a lot of slang. Kiley grinned sheepishly clearing her throat going back to looking at the ocean in front of them.

"Do you not go to school?" Malik questioned looking at the girl she was probably sixteen maybe seventeen around his age

"Not anymore I tested out when I was fifteen. I travel with my mom now." she said

"You get to travel a lot?" he asked interested

"Yeah. It's okay but it can get old. You make friends and then you have to leave a few months later." Kiley explained and her mind drifted to the fact she would be leaving Yugi sooner or later and her heart clenched

Ishizu and I rarely travel. It was only because Ishizu insisted that she and I came here. The clan had to relent due to the nature of her work." He said

"Clan?" Kiley asked confused

Malik blushed embarrassed that he had slipped up and said something that was supposed to be a secret to a complete stranger. "My family. We are large so we sometimes refer to it as a clan." He said hoping to quickly cover his slip up

"Okay you worried me there for a second I was think you meant some kind of weird cult the way you were talking." She chuckled jokingly

"Who told you that!" he snapped all of a sudden offensively and suddenly stalking towards her a couple of steps

Kiley in surprise and backed away from the tall angry Egyptian. "N-no one…I was just joking…." She said

He glared at her moment "Joking? As in you were teasing me?" he asked trying to understand

"Yeah. I don't think you're really in a cult or anything. It was just a figure of speech." Kiley admitted

He looked down at her startled expression and wide grey eyes full of uncertainty and fear. He sighed his tall form relaxing and he turned leaning on the ship railing again. Kiley blinked a few times realizing she may have said something to upset him. She remembered being a foreigner herself people often said things towards her in jest not knowing it was an actual insult. Her Japanese cousins had jokingly called her "Gaijen" which was a derogatory name given to American tourists despite she was half Japanese herself. Sometimes between cultures there were misunderstandings. Kiley knew Middle Eastern cultures and Americans did not always hold each other in the highest regard especially sometimes.

"Malik…I'm sorry I hope I didn't offend you. Sometimes I don't think before I say something." She said gently

"No it was not you. It is me. This is exactly why I told Ishizu I should not come!" he snapped beating a fist on the railing Kiley looked at him and saw he was blushing "My apologies I hope I did not scare you too badly."

"You did but it's okay." Kiley said walking closer to him and patting his arm

He smiled at her and Kiley tried to swallow but her saliva stuck in her throat. She wondered if he knew exactly how hot he was. "I'm glad I have met you Kiley Renee' Tomoe." He said softly

"I'm glad I met you too. You're my first Egyptian." She said but quickly realized how it sounded and her face lit up "I mean the first Egyptian I've ever met!"

"I understand what you mean." He said grinning

"Kiley! There you are." Taeko said walking up to her daughter her cheeks glowing and a half full champagne glass in her hand

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"Fine darling! Max has invited us to stay the rest of the weekend." She said

Kiley noticed her eyes were glassy. "But mom…we didn't bring any clothes to change in to. I don't even have a tooth brush." Kiley said frowning

"Sokay. Max will take care of everything." Taeko said smiling brightly

Kiley sighed heavily and walked forwards leaning towards Malik who leaned away from her uncomfortable. "You're such a good looking young man. You be nice to my little girl now."

"Thank you Tomoe-san. I will." He said

"Mom!" Kiley said

"Hush Kiley don't yell." Taeko said giggling and reached forwards ruffling Malik's silky blonde hair.

Kiley watched him quickly dart out of her grasp and hide behind her own body. "Forgive me for being rude but I believe your mother is slightly inebriated." He whispered to her

Kiley wanted to the ground to swallow her right now. "She's seven sheets to the wind."

"You kids have fun!" Taeko said and sauntered off the direction she had come

"Oh my god I'm so sorry." Kiley said embarrassed beyond belief

Malik chuckled "It's all right. One time Ishizu had a little bit too much of the harvest wine and she acted similar."

"Glad to know there's no cultural barrier with drunken shenanigans. I better keep an eye on her. I don't even remember the last time my mom was tipsy and she's calling Pegasus 'MAX'." Kiley said horrified

"She is an adult." Malik said

"You don't understand I'm afraid she'll end up doing something she'll regret." Kiley said thinking of her mom trying to sleep with someone especially Maximllion Pegasus made her a little nauseous

"I see. I will come with you then. Ishizu is much more restrained but given the past transgression you never know." Malik said

"All right. You'll be my wing man." Kiley joked

"Wing man?" Malik asked curious

"Come on I'll explain." She said laughing and motioning him to follow her.

Luckily there were rooms aboard the Yacht and Taeko although friendly throughout the night with Pegasus he was a perfect gentlemen much to Kiley's relief. She managed to get her mother comfortable in a private room aboard the ship below deck. She heard a knock at the door and thinking it was one of Pegasus' crew she answered it surprised to see Ishizu standing there. Ishizu's long ebony hair was falling over her shoulders now without her veil. She smiled at Kiley's surprised expression.

"Malik mentioned you didn't have a change of clothing. I do since we had planned our trip to be longer than yours. I brought you something to sleep in." Ishizu said offering her a simple white gown not too different than she was wearing now except it was beige.

"Oh. Thank you very much." Kiley said taking it from her

"Consider it a gift of gratitude for being so kind to my brother despite his anger towards you." Ishizu said bowing towards her

"No it's all right. We talked I understand where he's coming from. He was actually really nice to me later." Kiley said smiling

Ishizu's smile widened "I am glad he has met someone like you to call a friend. Unfortunately there are not many people his age in our family." Ishizu explained

Kiley set the gown down on a side table near the door and stepped out into the hallway to talk more to Ishizu. "Yeah he was telling me a little about that. He called it a clan." Kiley said

Ishizu's expression suddenly became serious "What else did my brother tell you?"

"Oh just that he calls it a clan because your family is so big." Kiley said curious to her sudden reaction it was similar to Malik's earlier

"I see. Yes we are a large family." Ishizu said putting on another smile but this time it seemed fake or forced

"Ishizu you guys aren't like Egyptian royalty on the run or anything are you?" Kiley asked

"Pardon me?" Ishizu asked her eyes wide at the sudden question

"You guys just get all weird when I ask about your family. I was just wondering if you're like a high official and you both ran away from your family or something. I was guessing and arranged marriage or something." Kiley said curious

Ishizu laughed outright "Malik is right you are a quite a strange young girl."

"Gee. Thanks. It's getting late. Good night." Kiley said annoyed again by the 'Strange' comment

"Oh please we do not mean offense we just do not come upon someone who is so…spirited such as you are Kiley Tomoe. It is refreshing I promise." Ishizu explained

"Okay just stop calling me strange where I come from that's not a compliment." Kiley said still irritated

"Apologies Kiley Tomoe. To make up for it please have breakfast with us tomorrow." Ishizu insisted

"Sure." Kiley said overtaken by her display of manners

"We would we honored to have you." Ishizu said bowing again

Kiley bowed back "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Yes. Have a good night." Ishizu said

Kiley shut her door and sighed leaning against it "There's something going on there." She said to herself before changing for bed

The spirit stirred in his slumber inside the puzzle as a familiar sensation triggered his awakening. Walking into the darkness he sensed Kiley and he also sensed something else. He closed his eyes concentrating and they snapped open cursing slightly. "Stupid…STUPID girl."

Despite the unplanned trip Kiley had to admit the feather down pillows and satin sheets of the queen sized bed were a plus in the private suite Pegasus had given them for the night. As soon as her head had touched the pillow she quickly drifted off to sleep. Her dreams started just as they often did but she usually didn't remember what she dreamed. This time however it was different she gasped eye opening and seeing the surrounding darkness that was shockingly familiar. The spirit stood before her scowling and she sighed frowning.

"Great. What are you doing here?" she snapped

"I came to warn you." He said

"Warn me about what?" Kiley asked

"There is darkness near you." He warned

"What are you talking about we're on a boat in the middle of the ocean." Kiley said

"There are other Sennen item wielders in your presence." He said

"Sennen items?" she asked cocking her head to the side

The spirit sighed annoyed "Like the puzzle. There are more items that exist."

"What! Why didn't you tell me that before?" She snapped

"It wasn't relevant at the time now it is." He explained "I never thought you would encounter not just one but two at the same time."

"Two?"

"Yes two. They are both extremely powerful as well you must be careful. It's a wonder they have not sensed the energies you give off." He said

"No they haven't. Who are they? What do they look like?" Kiley asked

"That I don't know but I know these items in the wrong hands can cause great harm. Take care girl." He warned

"What am I supposed to do?" Kiley asked worriedly

"For now act natural do not make yourself seem peculiar or out of place." He said

"Okay I think I can do that." She said

"Good. I can only warn you I'm afraid and even my time here is limited since you are so far away." He said looking at his hands that were already fading

"Well I guess thank you for letting me know." Kiley said begrudgingly

"Careful little girl I would think you are beginning to care for me." He teased smirking eyes narrowing on her

She blushed glaring back "As if! Get out of here."

"As you command. Nice dress by the way." He commented with a chuckle before fading away

Kiley looked down seeing the shift and she frowned before closing her eyes and drifting back into a normal sleep the knowledge in her mind that two other Sennen items were nearby and she could be in danger if they discovered she had a connection to the puzzle and the spirit.