SailorStar9: With Chapter 75 uploaded, I present Chapter 76 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra and Ami's dueling deck.

Chapter 76: The Divulged Truth of the Ishtar Family

"Today's Battle Tournament has come to a close with four duelist advancing to the semi-finals." Isono voiced over the intercom. The semi-finals will take place tomorrow morning at the third and final dueling arena, as we leave the Battle Ship."

"The third dueling arena?" Yuugi echoed.

"I guess we're leaving Domino City altogether." Jonouchi mused.

"I wonder what the third arena is like." Yuugi pondered.

"I could care less where the semi-finals will take place." Jonouchi responded. "Yuugi, let's make it to the finals."

"Ishizu, Marik..." Yuugi spotted the Ishtar siblings walking towards the group.

"We're worried about Mai." Marik supplied. "May we join you?"

In Mai's room...

"No matter what happens, we mustn't turn away from anything." Ishizu started as the group watch Mai sleep on. "Even if our world is full of sadness, there are those who reach out with open arms with hopes of merely catching a glimpse of it. Dating all the way back to Ancient Egyptian times, us Tomb Guardians have had countless losses in order to protect our mission: to protect the great power kept within the Millennium Items."

Both Ishtar siblings looked at each other and Marik nodded, giving his sister the go-ahead.

"I will tell you the tragic past of the Ishtar family." Ishizu related. "We, the Ishtar Clan, are the descendants of the Tomb Guardians who protected the two Millennium Items and the location of the Pharaoh's memories. We lived deep underground, away from the rest of the world. The eldest son of the Clans had to undergo the Rite of the Tomb Guardians and have the glyphs of the Pharaoh's memories carved on their backs. That was the life imposed on my younger brother, Marik. The tragedy took place five years ago, one year after Marik underwent the ritual." she recounted how she and Marik had snuck up into the outside world. "For the first time in his entire life, Marik felt the light of the sun wrap around his entire body." she then narrated how they had entered the nearby market for the first time, Marik excitedly taking in the sights. She was about to take Marik back when Shadi appeared in front of them, informing them of the Pharaoh's revival.

Both Yuugi and Ami cast a look at each other.

"Shadi." the two cousins concluded.

"Nee-san broke the law of our Clan at my behest." Marik admitted.

"By exposing Marik to the outside world, our family was fated to walk on the road of destruction." Ishizu continued, remembering Marik had pointed out the contraption hidden on the back of the door that led back underground and she realized their father had known about their escapade. Both siblings back underground, too late to find their father whipping Rishid as punishment. Just as their father was about to attack Marik with the whip, Marik's darker personality surfaced and he grabbed hold of the lash. Walking over to the alter where the two Millennium Items were placed, he claimed the Millennium Tod for himself. Using the Rod's power, he pinned his father to the opposite wall. With his father immobilized, he pulled out the Rod's hidden knife and stabbed the elder Ishtar to death. When the weakened Rishid called out to him, Marik took back his body, forcing his darker personality back into his subconscious. It was then Shadi's image reappeared before the traumatized Marik, repeating his words from before.

"The shipboard lights will be turned off at twelve." Isono sounded over the intercom. "Will all tournament participants please return to their rooms by that time?"

"I no longer hold the power to see the future." Ishizu admitted. "From the moment the future changed when I fought Kaiba Seto. To restore the Pharaoh's memories, you will need the remaining five Millennium Items and the three God Cards." she removed the Millennium Tauk. "And this is one of them." she handed the Millennium Tauk to Yuugi. "With this, part of my mission as a Tomb Guardian has been fulfilled."

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.