Kestrel: I sorry, I forgot to do the disclaimer on the last, like two chapter. Oopsies.

Yami: Oh, boy, you're in for it now.

Kestrel: *Rolls eyes* No, I'll just do one every chapter from now on. I'm a newbie, I'm sure they'll understand.

Kaiba: Yeh, like they understood when they caught you rifling through the-

Kestrel: That was different! That had absolutely nothing to do with ficcies. I'm not surprised that they were mad. But they could have restrained from kicking my computer over the fence.

Yami: *laughing hysterically* That was hilarious!

Kestrel: *Pouts* Yami...

Yami: *pulls an innocent face* I sorry.

Kestrel: *Sticks out tongue* No you're not.

Yami: If I kiss you, will you feel better?

Kestrel: *Widens eyes* You'd do that?

Yami: *grins* Of course not!

Kestrel: *Cries* Meanie...

Yami: *gathers the authoress into his arms* It's okay, darlin'. Look, I'll do the disclaimer for you, will that make it all better?

Kestrel: *Sniffles* Uh-huh...

Yami: The authoress does not own Yu-Gi-Oh!, which means that I don't have to be here. But since she makes me look good in most of her fics, I stay. She sure wishes she owned me, though!

Kestrel: *pouts* Hey, you said you'd be nice!

Yami: *chuckling evilly* I never said that, just that I'd do the disclaimer. And now that I have, I'm outta here.

Kestrel: *Cries* Why is it that no one ever loves me?

Kaiba: *gruffly* Well, I love you.

Kestrel: *perks up a little* Really?

Kaiba: *smiles slightly at authoress* Yup.

Kestrel: *glomps Kaiba* Happiness!

Kaiba: I...can't...breathe...

Yami: *laughing so hard he's beet red in the face* Run for it, Kaiba! She'll glomp you to death!

Kestrel: C'mere, you!

Yami: *mock firghtened expression* Aah, help!

Kestrel: *glomps Yami*

Yami: *holds the authoress about a foot away* I didn't say I love you... Kaiba did.

Kestrel: But you're better.

Yami: I know.

Kestrel: *Rolls eyes* On with the ficcy, people, before I shoot a certain Pharaoh!

Chapter Three

As we made our way through the forest, my eyes were darting around as if they were moving on their own. A little voice inside me was saying go, go, while another was saying, turn back, turn back. I listened to the first one only because I was lost and Yugi knew the way. If I ran without him, I'd be pictured on a milk carton.

I had to hold my breath to stifle a giggle at how tight Mai was holding Joey's hand. But I could hardly blame her, because the first time you go through, forest is full of those little noises that make your skin crawl. The maze was even worse, on account of the sludge from the last big storm and the beady little eyes that peeked out of every dark hole. But the meadow was better.

The meadow, an empty lot, was supposed to have been an apartment complex except that the builders never showed up. It was about five acres of wavy, calf-high grass that swished gently in the night breeze. The grass ran on and on and then stopped, going from weeds to city skyline to starry sky. But as I scanned my surroundings, instead of just grass, I saw a light that was shooting up into space— or down out of space. I couldn't tell. As we got closer, I could see odd-shaped embers floating in the light.

I then made clear my stupidity by stepping into the pillar of light and catching one. It glowed, white hot in my hand. Another landed on the back of my neck. They sparked, and then disappeared, leaving weird designs where they had fallen.

I collapsed on to the grass, sucking my hand, gingerly placing my neck in a puddle, and cursing myself for ten kinds of idiot. Brainless git, I thought angrily, didn't you just say that they were embers? Yes, I answered myself, and now you have a hole in your hand.

The burn on my neck sizzled, then started to do what these things do best: burn. When I finally cleared all the mud off of it, I was ready to scream. So I did. And my friends weren't the only ones who heard me. Um, are you okay?

I squeaked, a sort of high pitched sound, confirming that, yes, I was okay, that I was afraid, and also warning whatever—it—was to stand back. Fear and adrenaline just don't mix for me.

I'll take that as a yes.

"Yes, yes, come out! And speak English!" I cried hysterically, as though the mysterious speaker was talking gibberish. "Like words and sound!"

All right, all right. Don't trip over your own hooves. I'll come out. And out he came.

I am speaking English, you know. He said pointedly.

Not that I cared. I was too busy staring.

He is a Egyptian-looking pegasus/centaur. Basically a centaur with wings and the tail of a rat that snakes around in the air when he thinks. His mouth, a small slit on his face, does nothing. I still don't know how he eats in that form. He has a literal mane of dark brown hair, in a cut that takes it to a point between his shoulder blades, and misty sapphire tear-shaped eyes that are usually hidden by long bangs. His tail is long, and has a small metal barb attached to the tip of it. His wings, instead of feathers, have a soft, leathery texture. I recognized him as the creature that sometimes appeared in my dreams, and smiled. He had always let me climb on his back and then, when we were at our destination, he would always say something new. Last night, however, he had warned me, "If Bakura makes his move on the night of the red moon, all will be havoc until you meet in the cavern of sorrow." Then I had no clue what he meant. I knew, though, that it would become clearer as the days passed. As I gazed at the bat-like wings, twitching restlessly, and wondered if someday I would be riding him, just like in my dreams. I also wondered if I was awake.

Ryou made a sudden movement, just a quick little twist, but I guess it thought he was reaching for something, and lashed out with it's tail. Ryou shook his head, swayed, and collapsed. His eyes lost focus and rolled back into his head.

I snapped. Ryou wasn't that close of a friend, not like he was my brother or anything, but we weren't mortal enemies either.

"What the hell are you, and what the hell did you do to Ryou?" I threw in some more zealous cursing for good measure. The alien gave me an evil eye. I lost it. That was the way I was back then— rebellious, impulsive, and ignorant. No more, thank God. But when an alien impostor that has intruded upon your life kills someone you know right in front of you, you do exactly what I did, and lose it. My burnt hand was moving in weird patterns, and the burns sent sparks towards the thing. He leaped aside daintily, which made me even angrier. I was so mad, I nearly set my hair on fire. That convinced me that these were no ordinary burns. Plus, after catching them, I didn't feel the sparks. Weird. I felt like nothing could amaze me now, but I was slightly impressed when I found out that it knew my name.

Relax, Tea. He's only stunned. But your hreftas (A/N: No, this is not Japanese. Looking it up won't do you any good.) won't heal properly if you give them a workout on the first night. He gave me a piercing, suspicious stare. And where did you learn to do the Maela attack pattern?

I shrugged, then remembered what was going on. With everyone staring at me, I decided to take it all the way.

"Could you just tell me— us— who you are?" Never mind what. We could come to that later.

He smiled. I don't know how, him not having a mouth, but he kind of made his eyes dance, like ours do when we smile.

I am a Guardian. My name is Shadi.

"How do you talk in my head like that?"

Thoughtspeech.

"What are—?!"

Abruptly, he walked off behind some trees at the edge of the meadow. When he didn't come back, we were startled by the appearance of a young man who looked like he stepped right out of a Tommy Hilfiger ad. Little did I know it, but that boy would come to be my closest friend when the others turned against me. Another boy stepped out of the woods. He was familiar, but not with his looks. I recognized him, somehow, even though I had utterly no clue who he was. As soon as the other boy came, the good—looking one turned a dial on his watch, and disappeared. He was a hologram.

I turned to the other. "Where's Sha— I mean, our friend? Did you see him?" I swear, he winked at me.

" Of course I've seen him, Tea. He's me."

I pushed skepticism out of my head, and suddenly, as the situation dawned on me, developed a sudden stammer.

"B-but, h-how...?"

He smiled.

"I'm a shape shifter. I can change into practically any thing, like a spot on the wall, in a matter of seconds."

"Oh, is that so? Well, I'm ready to wake up now, because this ride is too weird for me."

He shot me look— a glare, laced with suspicion. I smiled glibly back, trying to make my eyes as venomous as humanly possible.

The guy-who-was-Shadi sighed noisily through his nose, and beckoned. I followed him behind the trees, tensed.

I half expected to see Shadi tied up, or dead, or something, but when

I didn't, I let out a sigh of relief.

The relief didn't last long.

When I turned back to the guy, he was half gone. His lips were disappearing, his arms moved forward to his chest and he fell on to them. Then as he started growing a tail (if you've ever seen it happen, you'd agree that it isn't exactly pleasant), I did the only thing I could do: scream.

By the time Yugi got to me, Shadi was himself. But he must've thought Shadi was trying to kill me, because he tried to kill Shadi with a palm branch. Shadi stood there until he couldn't stand it any more, and then lashed out with his tail, rendering Yugi senseless.

That was interesting. he said to me. Now I wonder what your other two friends are doing?

When we walked back around the tree, we found that Mai had passed out, and Joey was desperately trying to wake her.

Shadi gently stroked her face with his tail, and she woke up. Joey's face was a picture of amazement.

Ryou slowly sat up, shaking his head.

"Huh? Wha—" He stopped short as Shadi came into view.

I shot a hurried glance at him and started to tell Ryou that he was a friend.

"Ryou, do you know—!?!"

Ryou had an evil sneer on his face. As I was backing away in horror,

I saw him mutter something in disgust.

"What?"

He had been saying things like orjyu belndis and jaman sepulche, and I understood them. "Guardian filth," he was saying, in that strange yet familiar language, "Look at him, my enemy. Cower in my presence, inferior fool! I will crush you!"

He put his face close to mine, and spoke in English, as though he thought I hadn't been able to understand the other stuff. I had a feeling I was the only one who understood. "Guardian scum... Look, Tea, if you start hanging out with riffraff such as—" He gestured. Shadi's tail gave an angry flick. "Such as this— this alien trash, it'll rub off on you."

He stuck out his hand. I didn't take it. I was utterly revolted. "How. Dare. You." I said through clenched teeth. Shadi just stared, disbelief mixed with sorrow etched across his face like the very portrait of one who has just been slapped for no reason in particular. He had understood the language as well. Ryou shrugged, turned, and walked off. As I watched his retreating figure, my gaze turned to rest on the moon. A blood-red globe, it was looming in the sky for all to see and fear.