Yugioh belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.

Cairo wakes up to a scream late that night and she quickly sits up in bed. It is slightly dark in her room except for the full moon giving off a little light into her room. Swinging her feet out of bed, she places her bare feet firmly on the cold floor before running to the door of her bedroom. As soon as she pokes her head out, Seto walks quickly in front of her and continues down the hall. Wanting to know what all the commotion is about, she decides to run and catch up with him.

"Seto, what's going on? Who screamed?" she asks as she jogs to keep up with his quick pace. He does not answer and she studies his face, looking for one. Then she comes to a conclusion that he does not know either. They turn a corner and stop in their tracks to see Atem, Mana and the rest of the priests crowded around something.

"My ra," Seto says with shock, easily able to see over everyone's shoulders. Cairo, on the other hand, isn't so lucky since she is very short. The only thing she is hears is constant sobbing coming from what sounds like Priestess Isis. She looks to the people in the crowd to see who is missing.

'Dad, Mom, Shimon, Mahad, Aknadin…' she says in her head and she continues, 'Shada, Isis, Seto…who else?'

"Karim!" Isis cries out loud with her face buried in her hands. Mahad bends down to the motionless, cold body to take a pulse on the side of his neck. He waits for a while before bowing his head, making Isis cry even louder.

"He's gone my king," Mahad tells Atem. Cairo crouches down with her knees close and arms wrapped around them as she tries to see through the gaps between everyone. The remainder of her long, black hair scatters around her on the floor. She sees a puddle of blood and then a hand which belongs to Karim. She never really knew Karim nor talked to him. He was a very quiet priest and she would only glance his way whenever she had to be around her father on her punishments. It's no wonder why she couldn't figure out who the missing priest was. But by the expression on Isis' face, they must've been pretty close.

"Marik. He must've done this," Mana says. "But how could he have gotten past the guards?"

"That's a good question," says Atem as he watches one of the guards place a white sheet over Karim's body.

"This battle is coming up really soon. I can feel it," Mana predicts before looking over at Shada and Seto with a serious gaze. "Prepare our troops. They could attack any day now." Cairo quickly hides behind a large vase as the priests disperse and go on with preparing themselves for battle. The only two left are her parents and she listens closely to their conversation.

"I must prepare myself as well," says Atem. "I want you to look after our daughter when the battle begins."

"No."

"Mana, you are not fighting in this war. It's out of the question."
"We've had this conversation many times Atem and you know what? I don't care what you say; I'm participating in this battle as well. Have you forgotten who I am? I am the Queen of Egypt and just like you, I must also protect Egypt from danger."

"You've given that speech so many times…"

"So why hasn't it set in yet?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt. Is that so wrong?"

"Atem…"

"What if none of us comes out alive? Who will Cairo have?" Cairo's eyes widen as she listens on. She moves her hair to drape of her left shoulder as she bites her nail. She's never imagined life without her parents. What if this battle actually did take them away? What would happen then?

"That won't happen," Mana assures him but she can tell that he is still not buying it. She wraps her arms around his neck and presses her forehead to his, looking him in the eyes. "You've always taught me to think positive and to believe that everything will turn out alright. Do you believe everything will be okay, Atem?"

"I do but…" he sighs and lowers his eyes from his gaze. "Your combat skills. How will you ever defend yourself?" He moves away and turns his back to her.

"Atem please. Let me show you what I can do. Then I'll prove to you that I am ready to fight in this battle and defend Egypt."

There is silence between them for awhile before Atem finally replies, "Alright," and Mana smiles.

"Thank you." She walks up beside him and they head outside while Cairo gets out of her hiding place and watches them leave. The thought of not having her parents around still lingers in her head. She slowly begins to walk back toward her room with her eyes low but she suddenly stops when she senses someone else's presence. She looks further down the hallway and sees someone running down in another direction. She looks to the door that person came from and grits her teeth.

'How'd he escape?' She runs toward the direction and turns the corner to find no one there and she narrows her eyes. 'Nile.'

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Shimon runs down the stairs leading to the dungeon and gasps at the sight. The bars to the cell that Nile was staying in were completely missing. Atem, Mana and the others soon join him. "He could've been our key of figuring out Marik's strategy. Now he's gone," says Mana clenching her fist.

"There's nothing we can do now but hope that our strategy will pay off," Mahad says looking down at her and she nods in agreement. After discussing it more, they head back upstairs with Atem being the last one up the stairs. He looks over to his side to see his daughter leaning back on the wall with her arms folded and her head turned from him.

"Cairo." She turns her head to him, her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched. "What is it?"

"I'm frustrated he got away."

Atem raises an eyebrow with a smirk and ruffles her hair. "You just wanted to fight him more didn't you?" Her head lowers and he only smiles at her behavior but it soon drops when the whole palace begins to shake, putting them both on the alert.

"My king!" yells a guard. "He's here!" Atem immediately dashes toward the throne room where Seto, Aknadin and Isis are waiting.

"It's started my king," says Seto.

"Where's Mana?"

"She's gone."

"What do you mean gone?"

"She told us to stay back here and defend the palace and the villagers while she, Shada and Mahad go to the front lines," Isis tells him.

"What!?"

"This is not good," says Shimon, joining them in the throne. "From what Mahad has told me, not only is she putting herself in danger but the baby as well."

Atem's head quickly whips over to look at Shimon with his eyes wide. 'Baby!?'

Atem finally knows about the baby. Definitely not one of the best ways to be told. Review please!