Hey everybody! I hope all you are having a great year so far. This semester of college is a bit more stressful than the last one, but I'm pushing through. I was planning on doing a Spring Break fanfiction, where I update it every day during my break, but I realized that I haven't written anything for it yet and it will take a while to write the draft in order for me to update it daily. So, I decided that I'll just post it during a random week during the summer. Hopefully, I'll be done with this story by then too.

The next two chapters are going to be somewhat short, sorry. I'm trying to get as close to around the same number of chapters as the prequel, but I don't see that happening because I really want to finish this story. Also, it's to keep you guys busy from my periodical hiatuses. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

P.S You guys review so fast that I lose track of who is the tenth reviewer almost all the time. Also, this story reached 100 reviews! I'm so glad because it will essentially pass the number of reviews of More Than Friends, the prequel, so I want to thank everyone for their continuing support!

80th reviewer: Sweetie Cutie Pie, 90th: Petit Muguet, and our 100th reviewer: Inori no Uta! Thank you for making my story reach 100 reviews! I hope you will continue doing so and supporting my other stories!

The next day, when the council separated for a break from their duties, Atem asked Mahad and Seth to stay behind to discuss something. They glanced at each other in puzzlement but obeyed their pharaoh. Once the others left, Atem spoke.

"Zahra was attacked last night by what Yuugi believes to be Nuru's spirit," he announced bluntly.

Mahad and Seth instantly became alert and tense as if the dark spirit was in the room with them. Their protective instincts also spiked when they realized their niece, a person they've grown fond of quickly, was in danger and they weren't there to protect her.

"Is she all right," asked Seth while gripping the Millennium Rod tightly.

"Yes, she's fine. Yuugi got to her before he could do anything. I have a feeling she had a vision about his appearance, that's why she was so prepared." He rested his cheek on his palm and sighed. "Wish she told me though." But then, he hasn't told her about what Dartz said to him before he died, so he wasn't all angry at her.

The magician and priest sighed in relief as Atem continued. "Mahad, do you have or know any spells that can exorcise spirits?" Atem asked, a little hope and doubt evident in his voice. He knew that it probably had to be associated with dark magic, but he couldn't help but believe.

To his dismay, Mahad shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Atem. It deals with dark magic, reviving spirits, so I know nothing."

"I might be able to contain it," Seth said, holding up his Rod, "but I don't have the power to lay it to rest or destroy it."

Atem groaned angrily, rubbing his face. It seemed like most of the time during his lifetime, nothing ever goes his way. Why can't his life just be simple without people from the past coming back to haunt the present, shrouding the future in darkness (see what I did there?)? Do the gods hate him or are they just testing him to see if he is a worthy king?

Sensing his anger and distress, Mahad spoke up. "Atem, don't lose hope yet. Since Dartz used a dark magic scroll to create that fake child, it's most likely that he has more in his palace. If it's alright with you, I would like to investigate myself."

Atem pondered this. That is the best solution right now, and since he conquered Atlantis, they should have easier access to the library. "Very well, you may," Atem consented.

"Why is Nuru back from the dead anyway," Seth questioned. "How come he hasn't shown herself sooner? I've never heard or read about spirits returning to the land of the living."

"I believe it was Dartz's doing," Atem said. "He mentioned to me about demons returning before he died. He was working with Nuru before Yuugi returned to Egypt, so they probably struck a deal."

"When I get to the palace, I will look more into it," Mahad said.

Atem nodded and sat back on his throne as the other council members returned, signifying their break was over.

In the outer ring of the garden, Jou and Yuugi sat under a cherry blossom tree. Zahra was cradled in Yuugi's arm, playing with the falling petals while giggling. The pale queen thought that seeing her daughter well and happy, and visiting the garden after being stuck inside for months would help ease her mind, but no such luck. Hearing and seeing her stepfather shocked her system and now she felt vulnerable and exposed in her own home, a place where she felt safest with her husband and their friends. She had a feeling that if she ran away, he will keep on following her and haunting her no matter what, and she did not like that idea one bit.

She just told Jou what occurred last night and his face was contorted into an angry fixture. His hands were clenched tightly on his thighs, his knuckles gradually turning white from no circulation.

"I can't believe it," the lanky guardian angrily replied. "You're telling me that that snake is back from the dead? Why can't that son of a jackal just disappear from our lives?"

Yuugi didn't answer, knowing it was a rhetorical question, but she silently agreed. I guess some spirits that are so vengeful can't be laid to rest."

One second the temperature was warm, bordering on hot, the next, it dropped several degrees as if it was about to snow. Yuugi gasped, recognizing the sensation from last night, the hair on her skin standing erect. She immediately stood up and hugged Zahra to her chest. Jou gazed at her confused, being cautious as well, but not understanding why Yuugi suddenly became alert. His silent question was answered when a ball of purple shadows appeared, taking a human shape. Jou instantly stood in front of Yuugi protectively, his sword out of its sheath.

Without a word or signal, the shadow dashed toward them swiftly. Yuugi squeaked at the swiftness of it and curved her upper body more inward to shield her daughter. Jou brought his sword down and managed to cut the dark spirit in half, but a small part of it touched his skin and was absorbed into his body. None of them noticed as the shadow turned around and dashed to Yuugi. Instinctively, she stepped back into the light, her whole body cloaked in the sun's rays. The shadow abruptly stopped, staying within the shadows, and suddenly disappeared into nothingness.

Yuugi stood there, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart and her crying daughter, trying to process what just happened in the span of a few seconds. She heard Jou wince and quickly ran to his side.

"Jounouchi, are you all right," she asked worriedly while checking his body for any wounds.

"Yeah, just a random ache on my arm. I probably got stung by something. Enough about me, let's get to Atem before Nuru returns."

Yuugi nodded, still worried about her friend, and hurriedly walked to the throne room, Jou right behind her. She didn't notice him clutching his head tightly.

And that's it for now. Review please!