"Sisters of the Moon"
By: Yin-Yang & JanimeLee
"Full House," Keriam set her cards down.
Joey and Malik stared at her cards and then looked at each other. "I have to pay for her movie ticket," said Malik.
"I'm paying for the arcade," said Joey.
"I am enjoying this," said Keriam.
~And I'm wondering why, Malik, do you bother with those stupid card games?~ said Marik.
"We don't see you playing," Joey smirked.
"It's a good thing Mokuba is on that school trip," Keriam said, holding her arm in front of Marik when he advanced, "because we would have a lot of explaining to do."
"Why?" Joey asked. "He can see Marik and Bakura."
"He can? Oh yeah, when Pegasus had the Millennium Eye."
~I admire that kid. He has a lot of spunk and spirit.~
"And he still forgave you for kidnapping him during Battle City. Which reminds me, I do not like being used to battle my friends against my will."
"Hey calm down! Can we please not have a fight?" Malik pleaded with his darker self as Keriam tried to sooth her new boyfriend. Sighing he gathered the cards and shuffled them. "Okay what should we play now?"
"I don't care. I hope the others are alright though," the blonde sighed deeply as he folded his arms on the table then rested his chin on them. The four of them stayed quiet though as Malik began to make a tower out of the cards, keeping Marik from trying to blow it down. However, they looked up when they heard a sound outside that before they could get up the front door opened and their missing friend came in.
"Cheri!!" Said girl looked up before looking at the floor.
"You were right, Keriam. I do have a big mouth…" she said softly.
Keriam ran over to her best friend and hugged her. "No, I shouldn't have said that. Cheri, I'm sorry. We're under a lot of stress. Man, I was so worried when you ran off and disappeared. Were you at the Battle City Stadium?"
"How did you know?"
"Yugi asked me what your favorite place here was. It was a long shot."
"Heh, yeah I ended up there. And so did Haziem."
"Haziem?" Malik stood up.
~Great,~ said Marik. ~If he's here with Perjiem then so is Deliem.~
"He didn't do anything to you, did he?" Keriam asked, turning back to Cheri.
"He attacked me when I was distracted. Then he attacked Seto and..." she flushed a bit. "I got upset and attacked him."
~He bailed it before the lightning struck,~ Bakura added. ~I doubt he could survive that much power but I will say this: I am not getting on her bad side.~
"That wasn't funny..." she mumbled under her breath. "But... before that I felt something really strange..." she closed her eyes as she pictured the moon from earlier. "The crescent moon... I saw two stars really close to where the points curve..."
The stars! Malik quickly went to the window and opened it. He leaned out and looked at the moon. "Holy Isis..." he whispered. "Where's Kaiba? I have to call my sister now!"
"I think he was heading to the library," Cheri told him. "Oh yeah, Keriam, he sent over a couple employees to get our stuff in our hotel room."
"What for?" Keriam asked.
"He doesn't think it's safe for us there, so he's letting us stay here."
"Okay..."
"I'll ask him to let us stay here, too," Malik said and he left the room.
"Hey, Malik," Joey ran after him, "see if you can convince him to let me stay." He popped his head through the doorway. "I'm gonna get something to eat. You want anything?"
"Not right now," said Keriam.
"I'll come with you," Cheri followed Joey.
Keriam looked at Marik, who had moved over to the open window. She walked over next to him and looked at the moon.
"Well what do you know, she was right," he chuckled before pointing up at the sky. "Ishizu said something about two stars closet to the moon and there it is for all to see."
She looked out the window and noticed the odd formation as well. "Does this tie in with the legend you told us?" she asked.
"Yes but now... I'm not very sure."
Cheri sat at the counter as she watched Joey rummage in the fridge for something to eat. I hold power over the shadow realm... does that mean I can summon as well? she thought to herself but she just clasped them together.
"Wow Kaiba has a well stock fridge!! But how can he have an omelet with these eggs?" he frowned as he pulled out a plastic carton with tiny speckled eggs. "That must have been a sick chicken to lay these things."
"Those are quail eggs and they taste better if you boil them first," Cheri sighed as she rested her head on her arms.
"Tired?"
"Extremely."
"Boiled quail egg?" Joey asked holding the carton open with a silly grin.
Cheri couldn't help laughing. "Sure, I'll make them."
"You don't trust me?"
"Oh, I know you can cook but you have to watch these."
Joey shrugged and sat at the table. "So we're a cartoon in your world."
"Yes," Cheri answered, filling a small pot with water and carefully putting the eggs in. "And very popular. There's a ton of web sites on the net about all of you. A lot of pictures, too."
"Are they good?"
"Some yes, others are a bit extreme. Keriam's favorite pic of you is where you're dressed in a toga."
"Wha... a toga?! As in Ancient Rome toga?!"
Cheri nodded her head and laughed at his reaction.
"Aah geez! How am I going look at her after this?!"
"Oh calm down, puppy! She really likes you."
"Hey I'm not a puppy!" he growled but she laughed.
"Want me to prove it? Besides, she does like you, a lot. She has never missed an episode with you in it." Looking around she noted the salt and carefully sprinkled some into the pot. "You two are really alike and you have this fierce loyalty you don't see in many people."
"Hmm... I-I really like her. I mean she's a great girl and she's not into calling me names like moneybags or teasing me like Tristen. She treats me... like a person," he said softly as he looked down at the tiles. Keriam was a special lady and not because of the legend or powers or such. But... what would happen when they had to go home?
"I still don't understand why we were brought here," Keriam said, still looking at the moon.
~Perjiem and his brothers want the two of you,~ Marik said. ~If it's true that you and Cheri can use the power from the Shadow Realm.~
~Apparently they can from what Cheri did earlier,~ said Bakura. ~If you'll excuse me.~
"Spirit or not Bakura, I don't think you're going to get out of here with anything valuable," Keriam warned.
~No, I'm going to find out which room we're staying in tonight,~ he glared at her and left.
"Why did you team up with him?"
Marik snorted. ~It seemed like a good idea at the time.~
Keriam looked at him for a moment. "What's wrong?" He looked at her. "Something's bothering you."
~I figured you were perceptive but not that perceptive,~ Marik smiled at looked at his translucent left hand. ~It was never mine. Nothing was. It was all Malik's. Touch, taste, smell, sight, sound... even when I was in control, it always belonged to him. Every sensation had to go through him first before it came to me.~ He closed his eyes, clenching his hand into a fist. ~It will always be like this until we die and pass on to the next life. I will never know... what it's like to have that feeling go directly to me.~
Keriam took Marik's right hand in hers. His eyes flew open at the contact and he raised their hands up, staring in shock. He could feel the warmth of her hand, the softness and the strength. "Now you can," she said quietly. "This is yours alone."
Such a sensation sent delightful tingles through his body and for a brief moment, he felt like he had his own body once again. To be able to touch was a thing he missed since becoming a spirit. ~Keriam... thank you.~ he gently squeezed her hand as his lips quirked up ever so lightly. ~This is... something I never thought I would ever miss... but you gave it back me if only for a moment.~
Keriam smiled and Marik released her hand.
"The stars were near the points of the moon," Malik said into the phone in Seto's private office, with the CEO present and looking at him, wanting to know more about this Sisters of the Moon legend and how Cheri tied to it.
"I'll look at it later," Ishizu said. "And I managed to translate more. It said that when the two Sisters have awoken, the hidden star shall be revealed."
"A hidden star?" Malik frowned. "A gateway to the Shadow Realm?"
"I suppose so but if so, that would explain why their powers were wanted so badly."
"Great because attempts were already made on two girls we just meet." He sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "We believe that they are the Sisters of the Moon."
"Two? But the legend points that there were three sisters," Ishizu said with a bit of concern in her voice.
Three...? His eyes went wide as he nearly dropped the phone. Three of them? Then... who's the third?
Seto didn't like the other boy's reaction to what his sister has told him.
"Are you certain?" Malik asked.
"I'm positive," said Ishizu. "There is one more Sister."
"Great Ra..." Malik breathed and began to pace. But Cheri and Keriam were the only ones pulled into our world, he thought.
"The third sister is out there, brother. You have to find her and don't let anyone else know."
"I won't."
"Good luck. You're going to need it."
"Thanks," Malik said and hung up the phone.
"And what were you Great Ra-ing about?" Seto asked.
"It seems that the Sisters of the Moon are a lot more powerful than we originally believed," answered Malik.
"Considering that they get their powers from the Shadow Realm, I'm not completely surprised."
"Ishizu said that when the two Sisters' powers have awaken a hidden star shall be revealed."
"Cheri and Keriam are in greater danger then." He was about to say something else but looked up when Bakura entered the room. "Don't you knock?"
~I can't, Kaiba. Anyway, where are we sleeping? You need a map to get around this place of yours,~ he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'll have something arranged," Seto answered coolly. "I take it that you four are staying with the girls."
"Um, five," corrected Malik. "Joey wants to stay with Keriam."
Seto grumbled something incoherent and grabbed the phone, punching the number for his attendants. "I need three guestrooms ready. And I prefer you had one at the other end of the hall." He dropped the receiver back into the cradle.
~You forgot about the flea powder,~ Bakura said.
Seto narrowed his eyes at the tomb raider. "I also forgot an exorcist."
~Ouch. Yeah that really hurt.~
Malik rolled his eyes as the two bickered back and forth before deciding to leave them alone. Heading downstairs he caught the whiff of something cooking so he went to the kitchen. "What's going on in here?" he asked.
"Hi Malik! Want a quail egg?" Cheri asked as she held a bowl out to him filled with small eggs that were hard boiled. Joey was now at the stove, cooking something.
"Did I hear quail eggs?" Keriam walked into the kitchen with Marik following.
"You heard right," Cheri smiled. "And Joey's making fried baloney..."
"Hey, it's not that bad," Joey said defensively.
"I didn't say it was; I just don't care for it."
"Please make me a sandwich, Joey," Keriam pleaded, her mouth watering.
"No problemo!" he smiled.
Ryou entered the room with a not too happy look on his face.
"Seto and Bakura still yelling?" Malik asked, peeling a quail egg.
"Yes. No telling how long this will last for," he sighed and sat down himself.
"Those two always like this?"
"Unfortunately yes."
"Oh cheer up. Usually fighting shows how close two people are. Or does it show how much they hate each other?" Cheri thought for a moment before shrugging and took out a bottle of ketchup. Taking the eggs she peeled for herself she smiled and squirted a rather large amount on top of them in the small bowl.
"So how did the sleeping arrangements go?" Joey asked, carrying two plates to the table and handed one to Keriam as he sat next to her.
"There's three rooms," Malik said.
"Oh let me guess," Joey spread mustard on the slice of bread. "Keriam and Cheri in one room, you guys in another, and I've been put in the garage."
"Down the hall."
"Close enough."
"I want to sleep in a room solo tonight," Cheri said. "Keriam, Joey, you two take a room."
Keriam almost spit out her drink and Joey dropped his sandwich on his lap. Both started turning red. Keriam stammered. "I-I don't think that we should-"
~Why not?~ Marik smirked. ~It's not like you two are going to do anything.~
Joey turned a deadly glare at the spirit, while Keriam stood up and excused herself.
The brunette looked up and swallowed the mouthful and shook her head. "It was just a suggestion..."
"I'll be back." Leaving his sandwich he went after Keriam.
~And his sandwich goes unguarded,~ Marik grinned and made to grab it but he couldn't grasp it. ~Damnit.~
Seto pulled the slate-gray curtains closed over the large glass doors that led to the small outside balcony. He didn't want to look at the moon tonight--it was disturbing to look at now. And the reason included a girl he had concern for. He sighed.
The others had figured out who was staying in which room. Keriam and Joey had taken Cheri's "suggestion" and were staying in the room at the far end of the hall. At least he would hear them just in case...
"What does she see in that mutt?" Seto asked out loud. He reached behind his neck to the edge of his pajama top, and scratched, discovering that the tag was what was itching him. Sighing, he pulled the top off and took out a pair of scissors from the night table.
Before he could cut at it though he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," he called out absently as he prepared to cut the tag off.
"Hey Seto, I was wondering..." Cheri began to ask then froze when she stood. She was wearing plaid boxers with a t-shirt that said 'girlz rule, boyz drool' in giant plaid letters. "... oops."
Seto set his task on the bed and walked over to Cheri. "May I help you with something?"
Cheri couldn't answer as she was mesmerized. She never would have guessed that Seto's body was this good looking! The muscles were well toned and Cheri could just about see his navel by the waistband of his pajamas. HE IS GORGEOUS!!!
Shaking her head to get her thoughts clear, she quickly said, "I see that I've come here at a bad time. I'll talk to you later."
"No wait, it'll alright," he reached out to take her hand to stop her. Looking down he noticed how her hand just seemed to fit so perfectly within his own.
Oh man he's holding my hand! she screamed at herself. "I... I just wanted..." Oh damn I forgot what I wanted to ask!
He noted how she wouldn't look at him so he turned her around and tilted her face to his level. "Are you alright? Did you need anything?"
"Uh..." Cheri felt her cheeks grow warm. "I know this is going to sound very forward but can I stay here with you?"
Now it was Seto's turn to start blushing.
"I don't mean, you know," Cheri continued, "it's just that with everything going on and I know that you have one hell of a security system in this place, but-"
"It's alright, you can stay here," Seto told her.
"Oh, thank you!" Cheri hugged him.
Seto jumped when her arms went around his waist. Slowly he put his arms around Cheri, holding her gently.
Bakura walked through the door. ~Seto, have you- whoa!~
Seto and Cheri jumped apart and looked at the uninvited specter.
"Bakura, what is it?" Ryou asked from the other side of the door.
~Come in and see for yourself!~
Ryou opened the door and blinked at Cheri and Seto. "Nothing is going on," Seto growled at the two.
~Not yet,~ Bakura smirked.
"Bakura..." Cheri growled as her hands into fists. There went one of the best moments of her life!
"Was there something you needed?" Seto asked coolly although there was still a hint of red in his cheeks.
"Considering the current situation of the well-being of both Cheri and Keriam," Ryou began, "we decided that it would be best if we stayed in the same room with each of them."
~In other words, Seto,~ Bakura picked up, ~Don't worry because Malik and Marik will be staying with Joey and Keriam.~
Seto didn't say a word as he went to his bed and grabbed two of the pillows, tossing one to Ryou. "Cheri gets the bed, you two stay on the floor on one side, and I'll be on the other side."
~Just make sure you're on the floor.~
"You are just--so annoying!" Pouting Cheri turned to the massive bed and turned the blankets down. "Seto?"
"Yes?" He looked at her but she just smiled at him.
"Thanks." He smiled back a bit before going to the closet to grab some more blankets. By the time he returned to his room Cheri was laying on one side of the bed, facing the curtained window. Ryo was making a spot on the floor on the other side of the bed and Bakura was just watching with a smirk.
"Here." He tossed the albino some blankets before taking the rest and made himself a bed on the other side of the bed but on the floor. "The bathroom is joined to the room and its the door there in the far corner. Any troubles or anything you can wake me up," he explained.
"Okay. I just don't want to be a bother though," Cheri said as she curled under the blankets.
"Are you sure you're okay over there?" Keriam asked.
"I'm fine," Joey answered. "Really."
Keriam looked at him lying on the floor, not believing him. "Joey, it's a king-sized bed."
"Chivalry," he said and put his hands behind his head. "Besides, I've been told I talk in my sleep."
"I've been told I snore." She got up from the bed and walked over to him. "We'll drown out each other's noise."
"I don't think it's such a good idea, Keriam... I mean you and me in the same bed..." A large bed... just you and me...
"We can put the pillows between us as a barrier."
"...But-"
"No 'but's'. Come on, Joey, I know you've slept in worse situations."
"… You aren't going to let me win this argument, are you."
"Nope."
Sighing in defeat he got up but took the blanket with him. "I'll sleep on top of the covers." With that he lay on one end and wrapped himself up. "And if I try anything you have my permission to push me off the bed."
"You sure about that?" she asked as she got onto her side.
He gave her a cheesy grin as he rubbed his head. "I've been told I can sleep through a herd of elephants. Well g'night!" But before they could go to sleep they heard a knock on the door. Grumbling Joey got up, tripping over the blanket and hit the floor.
"Keriam? Are you alright?" Malik asked as the knob slowly turned and he peeked in. "Joey?"
~Look she has her personal watch-dog,~ Marik laughed at the tangled blonde.
"Ah shad up!" he growled, trying to get free. "What do ya want anyway?"
~Until Perjiem and his brothers are captured or such we'll be watching over the ladies," the dark one explained as his light came in with his blanket and pillow. ~They're under our protection.~
"Can you define 'our protection'?" Keriam asked with a brow cocked.
"Ryou and Bakura are sleeping in Cheri's room," Malik said as he made a bed on the floor.
~Actually, their in Seto's room,~ Marik corrected.
Joey blinked. "Run that by me again, please?"
"What is Cheri doing in Seto's room?" Keriam asked.
"Don't worry, Keriam, Ryou and Bakura won't let anything happen," Malik said. "Well, maybe not so much Bakura..."
Keriam groaned. "Excuse me," she said and walked into the bathroom, closing the door.
As soon as it shut, Joey sprang up from the tangled blankets and grabbed the front of Malik's shirt. "Two's company, three's a crowd and four's overbearing!" he hissed.
"This wasn't my idea, Joey," Malik tried getting the other boy to release him.
~Not completely,~ said Marik. ~She does need to be watched over, Joey. You can't protect her by yourself.~
Joey let go of Malik and picked up his blankets. He stared at the white one for a moment and the conversation he had with Cheri in the kitchen earlier brought a smile to his face. Separating the white sheet from the rest of the covers, Joey placed it on the bed and stripped off his shirt.
"What are you doing?" Malik asked.
"I'm gonna cheer up Keriam," Joey responded as he tucked a corner of the sheet into his waistband, then proceeded to wrap the sheet around him and fling part of it over his shoulder. "How do I look?"
~Do you want an honest opinion?~ Marik chuckled. Malik was trying very hard not to burst out loud with laughter.
"Damn, forgot the head wreath." Joey pulled the fake ivy from the pot mounted the wall. He bent it and placed it around his head just above his ears. "Well?"
"Hail, Caesar!" Malik burst out laughing.
Keriam walked back into the room. "What are you guys… Joey?!"
"I am not Joey," he said, "I am Zeus."
"Zeus was Greek," Malik managed to say, "Jupiter was Roman."
"Whatever."
Keriam put both her hands over her mouth as she stared at Joey. She couldn't believe it! Her favorite pic of him had come to life! She started laughing and tears ran down.
Despite how hard he had tried to stop his earlier laughter poor Malik dropped to his knees as he laughed even harder than before. He shut his eyes tightly as he tried to calm down and make his bed for the night.
"Hey I think I look really good," 'Zeus' said with a huff, posing like he was a true god.
~Take a picture, it'll last longer,~ Marik sighed, thinking he still looked ridiculous.
"Already got that covered. So Keriam, ya happy?" he asked as he looked at the giggling girl.
"Very," she gasped out and went over to Joey, hugging him. "How did you know?"
"Who do you think?" Joey winked.
Keriam laughed. Yes, Cheri, I owe you one!
"Alrighty," Joey took the ivy from his head and put it back in the pot, then removed his "toga" and put his shirt back on. "Time to go to sleep." He picked up the rest of his blankets and straightened them before wrapping himself up and lay on the bed.
"Thank you, Joey," Keriam said as she climbed onto the other side of the bed. "I needed that."
"We all did," Malik chuckled as he settled on his makeshift bed. "Good night, everyone."
"Good night," said Keriam.
"Night," Joey said and turned to face Keriam; he winked at her and she smiled.
Marik stood by the window and looked at the moon. Feeling Malik looking at him, he turned and waved his hand, letting the other boy know that he was going to sleep by himself tonight for a change. Malik nodded and settled down to sleep.
For the first few moments the room was silent and the dark one was allowed a moment of peace to himself. They had a lot to do in just making sure the ladies were kept from harm and trying to help with their wakening powers. But before he could delve deeper into his thoughts he heard a rather loud yet muffled snore. Looking at the bed he watched as the mutt, aka Joey, was talking into his pillow.
"Hey leggo my eggo..." he grumbled and began to gnaw on his pillow.
Marik just stared before sighing and looked out the window once more. ~Mortals are weird, especially that one.~
The sound of music filled the temple as worshippers listened intently. Torches were perched high on the stonewalls, giving enough light to watch three lovely ladies playing the beautiful music from. The three of them were sitting upon a large crystal ball that just seemed to hover in the air. The ladies were dressed in long white gowns with the long trail fluttering to the ground in a soft wave. The girl on the right was playing a harp, the one in the middle a flute, and the one on the right was playing a kind of clarinet or such. They seemed so in tune with the music, which the people within the temple were in awe of the delicate notes.
The one in the middle with the flute stopped playing and looked at the people gathered in the temple. Slowly she slid of the crystal sphere and floated down before the altar as her two Sisters continued to play. She held out her right hand and the young children timidly walked up to her. Smiling, she knelt down and one by one, lightly touched the children's foreheads, whispering a small prayer to Isis, the wife of Osiris, and to their mother, Nuit.
"May you each grow up with the wisdom of the ages yet the innocent love you have now," she prayed. To her, children were the most precious things in their world and like her Sisters, would do all they could to ensure them a safe and harmonious future.
Rising she softly began to sing softly, singing a prayer of thanks for all who came to witness them this night. It was always a joy to see their happy faces and the pure souls of the children. Yes, this was what their powers were meant for. To protect the innocent from all and any who would bring chaos and destruction to this world.
Cheri opened her eyes. Okay, that was freaky... she thought, slowly sitting up and looked down at Seto. Being careful not to disturb him, Cheri slid out of bed and quietly walked past Ryou and Bakura to the curtains. She pulled the curtain back just enough to look out and up at the moon. She sighed and let the curtain fall back into place and tiptoed back to bed.
"You okay?"
Cheri jumped and looked down to see Seto looking right back at her. "Yeah..." she answered.
He sighed as he slowly sat up, letting the blankets fall around his waist. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"... Just a dream I had, no worries."
"If you say so but I can't help but worry for your safety."
"Seto..." Thinking about it she leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek before sitting back. "You're sweet."
He grinned at her. "Don't ever let anyone else know that." They smiled and Seto ran a finger along her cheek. He caught her chin and brought her face closer to his, kissing her.
Cheri felt her spirit flying high above. It was a sweet, innocent kiss that ended too quickly. Both of them were blushing.
"Um... I... I'll see you in the morning?" she asked softly.
"Yes, of course... Pleasant dreams, Cheri." Still blushing he laid back and slowly closed his eyes. The girl followed suit but she touched her lips, still smiling as she drifted to sleep once more.
I can't wait to tell Keriam, she thought to herself.
Hands rose to the statue representing Isis, sweeping low then raised again, offering, surrendering everything she had, everything that she was. She crossed her arms over her chest, hands touching shoulders and breathed deeply, waiting, listening, closed her eyes.
"Please speak to your humble daughter, Mother Isis. Send my prayer to Mother Nuit. Allow me to see what you will make true. Allow me to see what I can change for the good of our beloved Egypt."
The whisper came.
Anubis...
Osiris...
She opened her eyes. Pray to Anubis? And ask him to speak to Osiris?
Looking up once more she held her hands together as she began to pray to jackal headed god.
"In the name of Anubis, Keeper of the Dead and Guardian to the Scales of Judgment, hear my prayer. Please, ask our great Lord Osiris, what can I do for the good of our country and people?" She opened her eyes as she held her hands upward, looking towards the heavens for their answer. "Please mighty gods... what shall I do?" Closing her eyes she waited patiently for any answer they may give her.
She saw him. He was young but strong. Strength was in his amethyst eyes as he sat upon his golden throne. Around his neck he wore an item in the shape of an upside-down pyramid engraved with the Eye of Horus.
A Millennium Item? The Puzzle!
He was cornered. Someone yelling at him, and he smashed the Millennium Puzzle.
She opened her eyes and stared at the heavens above. Falling to her knees, trembling at what was shown to her.
"The Millennium Puzzle..." she gasped as she brought her hand to her racing heart. "The most powerful of all the items but why? Why did he smash it?" To do something of that extreme could only mean that something of great danger yet importance would happen. But when would such an event take place...?
Keriam gasped as she sat up quickly in bed, breathing deeply as images of the dream slowly faded to the back of her mind. "A dream... I-It was just a dream..." she said to herself but she didn't seem convinced. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand touch her arm.
"Hey ya alright?" Joey asked with a sleepy slur. He rubbed his eyes some more before blinking. "Look like you had a nightmare or somethin'..."
It took her a few moments to get her voice to work again. "I think so..." Keriam looked around. "Where's Marik?"
Joey looked over his side of the bed down at the sleeping form on the floor. "My guess he's sleeping inside Malik."
Keriam got out of the bed and walked over to the window, looking out at the moon. What is it? Keriam silently asked. What are trying to tell me?
She jumped a little when Joey put his arms around her. "What is it?" he whispered.
"I don't know," she answered quietly. "In the Land of Twilight, under the Moon..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Keriam, I know I don't have power or such but I will protect you as much as I can." He sighed and rested his head on her shoulder. "I... I love you..."
She gasped lightly. Putting her hands on his arms as tears slowly ran down. Keriam turned around and put her arms around Joey's neck. He, in turn, wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I love you," she whispered, "I don't ever want to leave you."
Joey's arms tightened around her, fearing that if he let go, she would vanish. His chest tightened at the thought, and he knew that when this was over, Keriam and Cheri would go back to their world. It's not fair, damnit! Joey's mind yelled as he shut his eyes tightly, preventing his own tears from falling.
I would give anything to keep you here by my side, he thought desperately. They stayed like that for most of the night, not wanting to let go for anything in the world despite in the future they would have to say their final good byes.