(A/N:To eliminate any reviews bashing my writing methods,I'll explain here about names in this chapter. You will notice that I call Bakura's Yami "Rakura" rather than Yami Bakura. The reason for this is b/c in the Series,Yugi's yami is known as Pharaoh Yami,therefore,I call Yugi's yami,Yami. Please do not leave notes complaining about this. I will block you.)

Chapter Five-Shadi's Reinforcements

"Shadi?" Ishizu was surprised when her old friend appeared suddenly as she was preparing dinner for herself and her brothers.

"I am sorry to have intruded, but I have need of your assistance." The Egyptian man replied quietly. He looked deeply worried, which is something you did not see often in him.

"What is it?" The young woman put the lid on the simmering rice pot, and sat down, to face her friend. "Are you in trouble?" Ishizu couldn't imagine that Shadi would get into trouble, but what else could worry him so? The Items were safe, and had been so since the end of the Battle City tournament.

"I am not, but two innocent children are." He looked up as Marik and Rishid walked into the room.

"Shadi? What brings you here? We have not seen you in a long time." Marik stared at him in concern. "Has something happened with the Items once more?" He glanced towards the stairs,where his Millennium Rod rested under his bed.

The oldest Ishtar, Rishid shook his head. "I do not think it is the Items, Brother. Something else troubles our old friend." He pulled out a chair, and sat down to listen to what Shadi had to say. Beside him, Marik did the same.

Shadi nodded to the boys, and then continued. "There are two young girls caught in the middle of a very dangerous plot. They are being badly hurt and neglected by their adopted aunts. The aunts know of my existence, and have conspired to have me killed, in order to keep me from helping the young ones."

"That's treacherous!" Rishid exclaimed.

Marik nodded in agreement. "What can we do to help, Shadi?"

"Of that, I am not certain yet. I was hoping to gain some advice." The Egyptian replied.

"The only thing I can think of is to get the children out of there." Ishizu replied. "But if you could do that, I think you would've done so all ready."

"Yes. That is why I have come seeking assistance." Shadi nodded. "I just found out there were two of them. Before, there was only one."

Marik nodded, thoughtfully. "This is almost like one of those horror/mystery type things. You never know what is to come." He shook his head. He knew too well about those situations, what with everything he and siblings had encountered in the last year.

"Sadly, I believe you are right, Young Marik. That is all the more reason to get them out of there." Shadi was beginning to wonder if there was a way to get them out at all. "It will take careful planning, for them to get out without any further harm being done."

"Perhaps Yugi and his friends will help us too." Marik suggested suddenly. "They've always helped in the past."

"A good suggestion, but we must act swiftly. I don't want to leave the two girls alone with those aunts over long." Shadi said.

"Right." Marik looked at Ishizu now. "Dinner might have to wait, Sister. We have to help Shadi rescue those poor children."

"I know, my brother, and I am sure we will." Ishizu went to turn off the stove, as the rest of them gathered their coats to go to Yugi's.

Shadi nodded to them in gratitude. "I will return. I must check on the girls."

"Yes, you should. We will be at Yugi's shop when you come back. Hopefully, we will have a plan." Marik told him.

"That would be most helpful." With another nod to the Ishtar siblings, he disappeared once more.

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"Stop her!" Amelia dove for Alexandra, who was trying to get to the girl in the cellar. Her sister collided into her, and both women fell. "Come back here, you little wretch!"

"No!" Alex pulled herself up weakly, and gripped the doorknob to the basement.

"Oh no you don't!" Claudia came out of nowhere, and ripped her away from the door harshly, slamming her into a wall. "It's medication time…." An evil smirk played on the souless girl's face, as she proceeded to inject Alexandra with a potent sedative.

"No…..can't….sleep again….." Alex struggled to stay awake, but very soon went slack in Claudia's arms.

"Very well done, Claudia." Amelia took her young niece into her arms, and scowled down at her. "If I didn't need you, I'd kill you, you know." She turned to Agatha. "We keep an eye on this one for a while."

"Yes Sister, of course."

Alexandra moaned weakly, fighting the drug. "Leave me…alone…."

"Fat chance." Amelia smirked, carrying her back upstairs. "I'll leave you alone, once my plans are finished. You and Arianna are going to make me a very rich person."

Tears smudged the young girl's dirty face, but she made not another reply, as Amelia dumped her abruptly on to her cot. Oh Shadi! Where are you, my friend….she will kill me soon… Her thoughts grew fuzzy, as the drug finally took her.

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Marik stood in front of the group that had gathered to hear what he and his siblings had to say. Yugi had immediately called all of his other close friends to help with the situation after hearing what was going on. Bakura, his yami, Joey, Serenity,Tristan and even Duke and Mai had turned up. Tea had had to decline helping because she was sick with the flu. "We don't have much time for planning. Shadi is worried that once the aunts find out he is still alive, they will move the plan ahead faster."

"What can be done about getting the little girls out?" Bakura asked, deeply concerned.

"We need a distraction. " Everyone turned to look at the British boy's yami.

The ancient thief scowled. "Why does everyone look at me when a distraction is needed?!"

"Because, Rakura, you're the best at it." Bakura smiled at his yami.

"Oh fine! But I'm warning you. I'm only doing this because of you." Rakura told his hikari.

"Thank you." Bakura smiled again, then looked at Marik. "We can leave that to my yami."

Marik nodded. "Now from what I understand, there are two of them, and they are in separate parts of the house. This leads me to believe that We're going to need two groups. " He looked over at Rishid and Ishizu. He wondered if his ideas were close to what they had in mind.

Rishid nodded. "He is right. But we're also dealing with three very vile human beings. So,I think maybe one group for them, and one group each for the little ones."

"We've got just enough of us for that." Duke commented suddenly.

Yami nodded. "Yes, we do."

Duke nodded, looking around. It was hard to believe that just a year ago, he'd been so obnoxious, and hateful to most of these people, and now they were all as close as a tight knit family.

"So, let's split into our groups now." Yugi instructed. "That way, when Shadi does return, we'll be ready. "

"I'll stay with Rakura and you, Yugi. That way,if need be, Yami and Rakura can work together."

Both spirits made faces at that, but neither argued. Instead, the tomb raider replied,"Nice strategy."

"Good thinking, Bakura. " Yugi smiled at his friend.

Very soon, everyone else had picked their groups, the Ishtars having mentally added Shadi to their group.

"Alright. We're ready for Shadi. All we have to do is wait." Marik said to his sister.

"I hope everything is well with the little ones for now. Shadi looked so distraught, just discussing it." The woman commented.

"He did. That doesn't surprise me. Shadi's always been one to care for the innocent." Rishid reminded his younger sister.

"This is true. I wonder how he came to be the guardian of that child." Ishizu said now.

"There is no telling." Rishid replied, but he too was wondering the same thing.

"Perhaps he will tell us in time, but right now, we should be more worried about getting her out, then how she came to know Shadi." Marik put in.

"Yes. Whatever those wretched women want with those little girls can't be good." Ishizu agreed, hoping Shadi would return quickly to lead them to the house. The sooner they could help them, the better the chances the children would be able to live normal lives.