"Sisters of the Moon"

By:  Heikou and Janime Lee

            "They're kissing," said Keriam.

            "In public?" Malik had to look.

            ~Yuck...~ Marik groaned. ~What does she want to kiss him for?~

            "Would you rather kiss him?"

            ~Hell no!~

            "Keriam!" Malik had a look on his face that was half humor and half disgusted.

            "Sorry," she apologized; after all, it was his body.

            "May I cut in?" Ryou suddenly appeared and somewhat pushed Malik away from Keriam and took the other boy's spot. "Thanks, Malik. I appreciate it."

            Malik rolled his eyes. "I'll be getting some refreshments," he said and walked away.

            "I take it that they're still in pursuit?" Keriam asked.

            ~You have no idea,~ said Bakura.

            "How long?"

            "The last ten songs," Ryou confessed.

            "Wow... they're either desperate or they really do think you're cute."

            ~He wouldn't be having this problem if he's just let me take over.~

            "And the next thing you know they'll be getting a tour of the Shadow Realm." He sighed and shook his head. "I think Bakura has a one track mind."

            Keriam couldn't help but laugh softly even as the spirit of the ring was complaining. "Oh Ryou that was terrible! Now I can see why the girls want to dance with you so much."

            He blushed and looked to the side. "Now I see why Joey cares so much for you."

            ~Ugh I think I'm gonna be sick!~ Bakura complained as he made a gagging noise.

            "Bakura!!" came the hissed reply and he wisely kept his mouth shut. Malik was chuckling softly as he came back with punch for each of them.

            "You two look ready to kill Bakura," he commented as Marik teased the former thief.

            "If he had a body to kill," said Keriam, taking the punch and the trio walked off to the side.

            ~I used to have a body to kill for,~ said the thief spirit.

            ~At least you had a body,~ said Marik.

            "I don't know if this'll make you feel better, Marik, but in my world you are rather popular with most of the girls I went to school with." Keriam finished her punch. "They were crazy about that short shirt you wore."

            ~Really?~

            "Oh boy," sighed Malik.

            "And there was this one pic where..." Keriam stopped remembering who else was in the pic.

            ~What?~ Marik asked.

            "Nevermind."

            ~I want to know.~

            "Trust me," Keriam said with a slightly disturbed look on her face, "you don't."

            "There was someone else in the pic with him," said Malik; Keriam nodded.

            "Who?" asked Ryou.

            "...Bakura."

            ~Whatever for?~ said spirit asked.

            "Think about it for a minute," Keriam said through her teeth.

            ~...No...~ both spirits said.

            "For some odd reason, I can see that," said Ryou.

            "So can I," Malik laughed.

            ~I am not into that!!~ Bakura protested.

            ~How do you think I feel?!~ Marik snapped.

            "You know, talking about your world makes me wonder just how twisted our lives must be," Malik said absently.

            "You don't want to know," Keriam said under her breathe as she thought of a lot of sites she'd seen.

            Talking they looked up at Cheri and Seto made their way over. "Ryou, I see you gave your pursuers the slip," Seto said as he glanced around.

            "For the moment. If I wanted to be chased around the room all night I could have stayed home."

            "You're a saint to put up with all of this," Cheri said with sympathy. "And no sign of Amerila; so far so good."

            "Oh you didn't hear? She's been grounded when she told Mina off," Malik said as he took a sip.

            "Seriously? Oh no! I bet she's regretting that. I think her social ladder is going downhill."

            Ishizu looked up at the slightly darkening sky. In another week, the moon would be hidden by the shadow of the earth. The New Moon as it was called. The two stars burned brightly at the points just as they did before.

            "Lady Ishizu," Rashid walked onto the balcony standing a few feet away from her.

            "Why did this have to happen Rashid?" Ishizu asked. "Haven't we been through enough? Have we not learned our lessons?" She turned to face him. "What do you make of all of it?"

            He stood there silently, thinking hard about the question asked but nothing came to mind. "I wish I knew the answer to that… But surely there must be a reason for all of this," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I believe this is a test the gods have set before us."

            "A test…" she repeated softly as she looked back at the moon. Already the sisters remembered their pasts and little by little their powers were awakening. Soon they would be able to call upon the gods once more but could they handle that much power and control at once? "For the safety of our world and everyone in it… I hope we will pass it."

            "Master Malik and the others will succeed and the Sisters of the Moon will be victorious," Rashid tried to reassure her but he was wondering as he too, looking up at the moon.  The moment of truth would soon arrive and whether they were prepared or not, the ultimate choice would be left to the group of friends in Domino City.

            Ryou had finally started dancing with a girl who--unlike the others--didn't throw herself at him. As for the rest of the group, they decided to take a small break. Seto went off to call home and check on his little brother, and for Keriam, Joey as well. Tea had disappeared to the ladies room, while Yugi and Malik had a discussion in the far corner. Keriam and Cheri sat down at a small vacant table to relax for a bit and talk.

            Cheri had noticed the tense feeling coming from Bakura and Marik earlier. "What did you tell them?" she asked quietly.

            "A certain pic you and I had discovered," answered Keriam in the same voice level. "Quite by accident."

            "The one with the handcuffs?"

            "Yup, but I left that out."

            "Good," Cheri giggled, "because I doubt those two would be able to look at each other again."

            Keriam nodded. "I know."

            "You know... Seto asked me something earlier." She looked down at her hands where her fingers kept clenching together. "He asked me if I would stay here when this was over."

            "Oh. What did you tell him?" she asked softly.

            "I said I'd stay here with him. Just as I know you'd stay here with Joey." Looking up she nodded to her best friend. "Your aunt and uncle and my mom are the best parents we could ever have but maybe if they could see how happy we were here... they'd let us stay. I mean this is every fan's dream come true." She looked around, smiling softly. "This world isn't that different from our world anyway. Besides, it could have been worse. We could have gotten zapped into the Dragonball Z world."

            "You're right," Keriam smiled, "our situation is more like Escaflowne. You and I are in Hitomi's position, and we've met the men of our dreams. I don't know if you want to call Seto an angel, though."

            Cheri laughed. "To me he is. And what about Joey?"

            Keriam grew quiet as she thought about the blonde boy; her features falling as images of Joey in the hospital bed floated in front of her vision. "Cheri... I don't want to go back home," Keriam looked at her best friend. "I can't... Not if I have to leave Joey behind. I don't want to leave him, I... I love him..."

            Cheri watched in shock as Keriam stood up and walked over to the large window, looking up at the moon. If there is a possibility to let me stay here, Keriam thought, then please let me. I don't want to leave Joey ever again...

            Keriam... Cheri couldn't help but sighed and rub at her temple. Her mind argued that they both should go home when this was over so they don't worry their families any more. Her heart was saying that it wouldn't be right. Keriam loved Joey as much as Cheri loved Seto. To leave them behind... Is this a test we have to face? Cheri frowned as she began tapping fingers on her knee. But she meant what she said, she would gladly stay here with Seto for the rest of her life.

            Everything was normal at the mansion; Seto put away his cell phone and walked back to the rest area. He found Cheri sitting by herself at the table; Keriam was looking out the window. Deciding not to figure out why the two girls had separated, Seto walked over to the table and sat next to Cheri. "What are you thinking?" he asked, putting his arm around her.

            "Keriam and I had a little talk," Cheri answered.

            "Dare I ask?"

            "You can guess, Seto. You and I already talked about it."

            He leaned his head against hers.

            Keriam watched the two out of the corner of her, slightly jealous at the scene.

            ~I thought you were having a good time,~ Marik suddenly appeared beside her.

            Keriam grinned lightly at him. "I'm surprised that you're still speaking to me," she said, thankful that no one else was in the room or they would have thought she was losing it.

            ~That is going to take me some time to get over, though. However, I do have one small request.~

            Keriam looked at him, quizzically.

            ~May I have the last dance?~ Marik asked.

            She blinked in surprised then smiled. "Okay, but you might have to fight Ryou for it since he doesn't want to go home in pieces."

            ~We'll see,~ he smiled just ever so lightly as he held his hand out. Keriam took it and wrapping his arm around her waist he led the dance as they glided along the floor. They moved together perfectly like poetry in motion.

            "I didn't know you could dance."

            ~I'm a fast learner and you happen to be a great teacher.~

            "Ah, I forgot--what one learns so does the other."

            "I hate to interrupt," Malik appeared next to them, "but what if somebody walks in?"

            Marik released Keriam and looked at his light. ~Permission to take over for the rest of the dance?~

            Malik raised an eyebrow. Marik asked permission?! "I don't see why not," said Malik. It'll be over in a couple hours; as long as you don't try anything."

            ~I won't try anything.~

            "Alright, go ahead."

            Marik stepped into his body, and then was in control. "Shall we?" he asked, holding out his hand and bowed his head.

            Smiling she took his hand once more. Like before they seemed to be moving as if they were dancing on water but still, she wished Joey had been able to make it. Still... he wanted her to have a good time and she was.

            "Marik?"

            "Yes?"

            "I wanted to thank you for asking me out. Both of you."

            Marik smiled.

            ~You're welcome, Keriam,~ said Malik.

            "You two taking it back to the dance floor," Cheri asked, "or are you staying here?"

            "We're coming," said Keriam.

            They walked back to the gym. Once there, Ryou quickly snatched Cheri from Seto's arms, apologizing but pointed out that he was only doing it to make the single girls chasing him back off. Seto narrowed his eyes but he moved back to the side as they danced.

            "I know I'm going to hear it from him," said Ryou.

            ~Not necessarily,~ Bakura said.

            "No Shadow Realm tours," Cheri hissed quietly. "Bad enough that you sent Bones and his cohorts there--don't you dare do anything to Seto."

            ~Now why would I do a thing like that?~

            I can think of a reason, Ryou thought.

            "Just don't." But she smiled and let herself be led onto the dance floor. Looking around she could tell hat the girls after him were shooting not so nice glares in her directly. "I'm so tempted to let you send them to the Shadow Realm."

            ~I would be more than happy to but Ryou won't let me!~ he whined which was so unlike him.

            "And how are we going to explain how they suddenly disappeared?" Ryou said gently.

            "Okay okay you have a point." She smiled and nodded at him. If my heart already didn't belong to Seto I think I could fall in love with you guys, she thought to herself but she would never hurt him.

            "Poor Ryou," Yugi said. "And what the hell--poor Bakura, too."

            Tea held in her laughter. "To think I would ever hear you say that."

            Yugi also felt the laughter from Yami, but the boy just shrugged. ~You two didn't by chance see the look Marik was giving Keriam earlier, did you?~ asked the Pharaoh.

            "What do you mean?" asked Yugi.

            ~Look at him now.~

            The couple turned their heads to Keriam and Marik as they danced along the floor; they couldn't help noticing the look In Marik's eyes or the graceful way he and Keriam danced.

            "It's like they're..." Tea paused, slightly afraid to use the word she wanted to. "Perfect..."

            "I've never seen him like that before..." Yugi said softly as he continued to stare at them. "It's like... He looks like..."

            ~He's in love.~ Both teenagers could only gape in surprise. Marik? In love? That was just undeliverable but looking at him they knew he was right. The spirit looked like he was in love.

            "Um... but Keriam loves Joey," Tea said, "and vice versa."

            "And let's not forget that it's Malik's body..." Yugi said.

            ~I doubt that Malik would allow Marik to do anything that would jeopardize Keriam and Joey's relationship.~

            "You sure about that?" Yugi asked. After all, Joey was his best friend.

            ~I am quite certain,~ answered Yami.

            Bakura sighed as Ryou and Cheri moved along the dance floor. ~May I have this dance?~ he asked in a mock-sweet tone.

            "Only if you promise no Shadow Realm sending or any smart cracks to people," Ryou answered.

            ~I swear on the Millennium Ring.~

            "Cheri, would you mind?"

            "Just as long as he behaves," she answered.

            ~I'll be good.~

            "Alright." Ryou closed his eyes and Bakura took over.

            "Watch where you put your hands, too," Cheri warned.

            "Precisely my thoughts," he grinned.

            ~Bakura...~

            He just smiled innocently and held her closer. "You two take away all my fun."

            "Only you would think sending innocent people to the Shadow Realm as fun," she teased.

            "Most of those people weren't exactly innocent."

            "Hmm good point." She smiled as they danced along the floor, feeling so at ease like this. "I didn't know you were such a good dancer."

            "Being light on your feet helps." Bakura nodded.

            ~So does dodging away from rabid girls,~ Ryou added.

            "Alright, that's enough," Seto said as he walked up to them.

            "I haven't dipped her yet," Bakura moved them away from the CEO.

            Seto took both meanings of the phrase. "Too bad because you never will."

            "And you think you will?" Bakura smirked.

            "Guys," Cheri spoke up, "as much as I love the thought of two men fighting over me, now is not the place to-"

            Something crashed through the windows, sending broken shards of glass flying into the gym. The students screamed, throwing their arms over themselves or each other for protection.

            "No!" Keriam shouted. A flash of light and the glass shards froze in mid air, just before they struck anyone. Then the broken pieces gathered into a corner of the room and stayed on the floor.

            Marik looked at Keriam from the corner of his eye. She was pale--not from using her power but from shock at what she had done.

            No one was sure what had happened but the students began to murmur to each other. The yamis were on full alert though as Marik led Keriam back to the others.

            "What went through the window?" Tea asked a bit fearfully as see looked around. She couldn't see anything since many of the students were looking out the now broken window.

            "I don't know but I think it's time we take our leave," Bakura growled softly.

            "I'm afraid you can't leave just yet," a voice hissed all around them as the lights began to flicker on and off. "You see, the party has just started."

            The lights turned off this time and soon screams and yells spread through the large room. When the lights flickered on again it caused another riot as students tried to escape through the doors. Several dark and menacing looking monsters had just appeared and they did not look happy. They headed towards the group, ruthlessly knocking people away with a single swipe of their fists into tables and chairs.

            "Perjiem!!" Said cloaked man was there but he wasn't alone as two other men were standing on either side. All three brothers were here and already they had summoned these dark creatures.

            "You just have to ruin a perfect evening, don't you!" Cheri yelled.

            "Enjoy what you already had, Sisters of the Moon," Perjiem ignored her. "Tonight is going to be the last night you ever will."

            "Says you," Marik stood in front of Keriam.

            "Well, Marik," Perjiem looked him over, "seems that you're getting a little attached. Her heart belongs to that boy. Will you do to him what you did to me, old friend?"

            Keriam looked between the two. Marik, what did you do to him?

            "Who shall tell the story, then?" Perjiem went on. "You or I?"

            Marik remained quiet. It was obvious that he really did something alot worse than taking over someone's mind.

            "Marik? What's going on?" Seto asked with a frown but he had a hunch that no one was going to like the answer.

            "... It was a mistake I did but I learn from it, Perjiem!!" he shouted at him.

            "Have you really? And you haven't told them about your dark past? Well, allow me to tell the sad tale then."

            "No!!"

            "It was about three years after you killed your father, wasn't it?" Perjiem grinned sadistically. "Every single descendant of the ancient tribes awaited the return of the Pharaoh for over five thousand years. He would take his throne yet again. Your father didn't clearly understand some of the scrolls that had been passed down through the generations--he misread or misinterpreted some of the texts. That's why that one passage is carved on your back."

            Marik said nothing. Keriam noticed that he was sweating and struggling to keep his breathing calm.

            Perjiem continued, "And he told you it was the will of the Pharaoh. Oh well."

            "Your father was very good at carpentry and wood carvings," Deliem snickered, receiving a glare from Marik. "You must be very grateful to Rashid before your father did the same to Ishizu. What a pity it would have been to damage such a lovely flower such as her."

            "You stay away from my sister," Marik hissed.

            "Oh are you trying to intimidate me?" he scoffed.

            ~Marik don't let him get to you,~ Yami told him but he could see he was rapidly losing his control.

            "But what has this have to do with you? Why are you attacking out friend?" Yugi asked.

            "It's not just his father's blood staining his hands," said Perjiem. "But also the blood of the other tribes that he slaughtered." Perjiem pulled back his hood, revealing his face. Everyone gasped at the horrible burn mark that covered most of his face. "And I almost joined them."

            "We escaped," Haziem spoke up, "but we returned and rescued our brother." He looked at Marik.

            "Bastards!" Marik screamed as the rage overtook him, and he started towards the three brothers.

            "Marik! No!" Keriam grabbed his arm, but Marik swung his free hand and struck Keriam's left cheek; the force of it made her fall to the floor.

            "Keriam!" Cheri yelled and as and Tea ran to her.

            Marik stared in horror. Osiris, what have I done...

            "Even now you can't escaped your bloodied past. Like father, like son."

            Bakura growled as he stepped before the girls. "Is this why you want their powers of the gods? For revenge?"

            "This has more than simple revenge," Deliem said coolly. "It had started as such but now... this is something more. Marik will pay for the crimes he has committed."

            "You'll never get the gods! They have been entrusted in our care!" Cheri shouted at them, staying close to her friend as Tea helped her sit up, looking at the red mark on her face.

            "You are wrong about that," Perjiem commented as he pulled the hood back over his face, hiding the burns. "We will get the gods and have their powers as our own. Just wait and see, Sisters of the moon. Wait... and see."

            The black creatures that had arrived with the brothers slowly began to move towards them.

            "Uh, guys..." Yugi pointed as the things drew closer.

            Keriam looked up, frowned as she put her hand on her cheek. "Here we go again, Cheri."

            "I see that," her best friend answered, "the only problem is that there's eight this time instead of one."

            "Oh boy..." Tea said as she and Cheri helped Keriam to stand up.

            The creatures moved closer, and everyone stepped back. But Marik stayed where he was.

            "Marik," Seto said, "move it."

            "He's not listening," said Bakura.

            "Marik, come on," Keriam grabbed his hand; it felt cold, almost lifeless. Something's definitely wrong, she thought, looking at him. "Marik? Malik?" she said, hoping that one of the two could hear her. But he didn't respond.

            "Keriam! Watch out!" Yugi shouted.

            She quickly tackled the catatonic boy to the floor, hearing the sickening crack when his skull contacted with the polished wood.

            "Ouch, he's gonna feel that in the morning."

            Cheri frowned as she looked around. "Guys, get Marik out of here he needs a doctor."

            "What are you going to do?" Tea asked as she helped Keriam get the unconscious boy to his feet.

            "Try to stall I guess."

            "Are you crazy?! We can't leave you here!!"

            "Just go!! I warned them that if they hurt any of my friends I would make them pay and I'm going to prove it!!" Already she could feel herself losing her temper. Okay I know Marik did alot of bad stuff in his past but to throw it back in his face was just wrong! He's tried so hard to put it behind him and now he's completely lost! She clenched her hands tightly as she felt the power building due to her anger. I am not letting them get away with this!!

            "I am not leaving you," Seto moved to her side.

            Bakura ran next to Keriam and Marik. "He needs more than a doctor," he said, taking Marik from the girls.

            Keriam pulled up her dress and reached into the pocket of her shorts that she had on underneath. I know what happened last time, she thought, but this is going on far enough! Keriam pulled out her Duel Cards.

            "I hope you're not going to summon that overgrown flea bag again," said Deliem.

            "How did you guess?" Keriam asked and started to sing. Silver Fang appeared followed by Celtic Guardian. Keriam held up the Polymerization Card, and the two Duel Monsters fused together, creating the Silver Wolf Knight.

            Everyone else in the room, looked on in shock. "What the..." Seto couldn't believe his eyes.

            "Keriam! You can actually summon Duel Monsters?" Tea breathed as her eyes widen.

            She nodded and tried to keep focus. "Go and take down those monsters, silver Wolf Knight!"

            The monster charged forward, swinging his word around that he easily took out one of the monsters but here was still seven more. Howling an entire pack of silver-furred wolves appeared and ganged on another monster but the others rushed at him.

            "No he can't take down the six of them at once!" Yugi cried out in worriment.

            "He needs help!!" Cheri cried. We have to help him but how? We need something or someone more powerful! She felt something inside her click. "Seto, give me one of your Blue Eyes!"

            "What?"

            "Just do it! Trust me!"

            Seto pulled out the card of his favorite Duel Monster and gave it to her.

            "Yugi, your Dark Magician!"

            Without asking, Yugi handed it over.

            Cheri and Tea held out the cards and started to sing. The cards in their hands turned into vapor and the monsters appeared.

            "What the?!" Bakura stopped himself from cursing as he stared at the two monsters.

            ~You summoned them...~ Yami aid breathlessly before the two monsters lunged forward.

            With such a powerful dragon and spell-caster aiding the warrior it didn't take long before the dark creatures were defeated and now all that was left were the three brothers. For some reason thought, they were not the least bit worried.

            "So, the Sisters have awaken their powers," Deliam pointed out.

            "Soon they will be able to summon the gods," Haziem said with a grin before turning to their older sibling.

            Perjiem looked at the unconscious Marik and then at the three monsters. "I have found out all that I wanted to know. Let us go." Turning his back on them the three brothers headed out, letting the shadows swallow them and vanished, without a trace. "But this is far from over..."

            Cheri looked at the massive dragon, reaching out to touch the scales only to realize that it was real. "You're real..." she breathed as it turned blue eyes at her. Reaching out she gently petted his nose. "Thank you..."

            Tea smiled as she thanked the magician as well. "We couldn't have beaten them without your help."

            The Duel Monsters nodded and returned to the cards. Keriam fell to her knees, breathing hard and feeling nauseated.

            "Keriam!" Cheri and Tea ran to the taller girl.

            "I... I'm okay," she said weakly. "It's not as bad as last time."

            "Last time?" Yugi asked.

            "I summoned Silver Fang, and that's when I had the fever. Joey saw me do it."

            "Mr. Kaiba!" Everyone turned as the chauffer ran into the gym, stopping short at the sight. "Boss, what happened?!"

            "Nothing that you need to know, Paul," Seto answered. "Where's the limo?"

            "I moved it to the exit door right outside; the police and ambulance are on their way." He looked at Marik, and then to the three girls. "Should we wait for them?"

            "No," Seto shook his head, "we're going back to the mansion. "And Paul, don't say a word to anyone--that includes Mokuba."

            "Yes sir." Paul went over to Bakura and helped carried Marik out to the limo.

            Yugi helped Keriam to her feet, and everyone quickly left the gym. By the time the police arrived, the limo was a good distance from the school.