Soul Battle

Chapter Six – Nightmares

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Yu-Gi-Oh, and I'm not making any money from this fic

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Kyla sat at the breakfast table, picking at her food and watching her foster parents from under lowered lashes. She was desperately trying not to say anything that would cause either of her foster parents to get angry with her. She had enough cuts and bruises as it was, and she really wanted some of them to heal, at least. They were getting very difficult to hide.

Kyla finally finished eating, even though it was kind of difficult to swallow. She gathered up her plate, cutlery, and glass, took them to the sink, and washed them up. Then, she picked up her school bag, and walked to the front door.

Kyla's foster father looked up, and narrowed his ice blue eyes. "Where do you think you're going?" he demanded.

Kyla hesitated, her hand on the doorknob. She could always just open the door and run out of the house... But she knew that it would be worse for her later if she did that. So, with an inaudible sigh, she turned from the door. "To school, sir," she replied. "It is a school day, after all." Kyla knew that she sounded rude, but she didn't care. She wanted to get to school. She wanted to get away from her foster parents. From the bullying, abusive father, and the mousy, weak mother.

Stefan's eyes flashed angrily, and he pushed his chair back from the table. Getting to his feet, he stormed over to Kyla, and slapped her, hard, across the face.

Kyla didn't even flinch, and she violently beat down the tears that threatened to rise in her eyes, leaving the familiar lump in her throat, as Stefan punched her hard enough to knock her to the ground, a little stunned. Then, he grabbed a sharp-bladed kitchen knife, and crouched down next to Kyla.

Kyla's eyes shifted to the ceiling, and she forced herself to a small corner of her mind as Stefan raised the sleeve of her right arm and cut a thin line.

Kyla felt the warm wetness on her arm as the blood welled. But she refused to even flinch, and that must have enraged Stefan, as he gave her relatively deep cuts on both arms and on one of her legs.

When he was gone, Rita got up, and silently bathed and bandaged Kyla's cuts. Then, she put her lips close to the girl's ear, and whispered, "If you cried, he would go easier on you."

Kyla only closed her eyes.

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Kyla walked into the classroom, limping slightly. Her arms and leg felt incredibly sore, and she wondered how she was going to cope with writing. At least there wasn't any sport on today. She knew that she wouldn't be able to cope with that.

Kyla calmly told the teacher that she was late because she had to help out with something at her house. She knew that Nia was suspicious, but didn't even look at her friend. And she was very careful to keep her sleeves pulled well down to hide the bandages on her arms. She really didn't want to try and explain those away.

As she made her way to her seat, Kyla thought. Why did she refuse to tell someone about what she was going through in her foster home? At first, it had been a matter of pride – Kyla didn't want to admit that she couldn't handle anything. Now, it had gotten to be a habit. That, and the fact that Kyla still didn't want to appear weak.

Which is kind of a stupid reason, Nareen's voice said in Kyla's mind.

Will you please be quiet?! Kyla snapped. You're the one who stopped me from acting differently before!

Well, I can assure you, that will change, Nareen replied.

Humph, Kyla said.

Nia suddenly poked Kyla in the arm. The latter girl bit her lip hard to stop a soft squeal of pain. That poke hurt.

"Pay attention!" Nia hissed.

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Ina quietly entered Pharaoh Yami's private chambers.

The Pharaoh looked up, and his eyes filled with relief as he spotted Ina. He quickly got up, strode over to Ina, and hugged her tightly.

"What's wrong?" Ina asked. "Ishi didn't say anything other than that you wanted to talk to me."

"That's because that was all I told him," Yami answered, sitting down and pulling Ina down with him. He caught and held her hands, looking deep into Ina's eyes. "I'd rather that as few people as possible know about this. For now, at least."

"What is it?" Ina wanted to know.

Yami dropped his gaze to their clasped hands, and tightened his grip. "Ina, someone's been killing people," he told her in a low voice.

Ina drew back sharply, her eyes wide. "Someone's been murdering people?" she gasped. "When? How? Do you have any idea of who it might be?"

"It appears to be a sort of ritual," Yami explained. "And as to who the murderer may be... Well, I think I may have some idea as to that. But you won't like it, Ina."

Ina opened her mouth to ask why, and then closed it again as a familiar face appeared in her mind. "Nareen," she whispered, feeling sick. "You think that it may be Nareen killing all of these people."

"I'm sorry, Ina." Yami's voice seemed to be coming from far away. "I know that Nareen is your friend... And I know that I have no evidence that she is the murderer. I promise that I will not accuse her unless I have definite proof of her guilt."

Ina's mind was in a whirl. How could Nareen be killing all of those people? she wondered. She doesn't have it in her to murder people... Or does she?

"Ina... There's something else." Yami's words broke through the girl's thoughts.

Ina looked up. "What is it?" she asked.

Yami hesitated, then pulled Ina closer to him and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "This," he murmured, before gently kissing her.

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Kyla was sitting at her desk, working on her homework. Or trying to, at least. Because she felt so sore, writing felt like torture.

Kyla was relieved that she had managed to avoid both of her foster parents. She was pretty sure that if she had to suffer another beating now, she would break.

How are your arms and leg doing? Nareen asked silently.

Very sore, Kyla replied glumly. I'm getting really sick of all this abuse... I'm going to go mad soon. I know it.

You could just tell someone, you know, Nareen suggested. It's only because of your pride that you won't let anyone help you.

That may be, Kyla agreed. But my pride's the only thing I have left to me.

It wouldn't be the only thing you had if you didn't keep pushing everyone away from you, Nareen said.

No one would believe me anyway, Kyla replied.

You mean Nia wouldn't? was Nareen's response. You think Ryou wouldn't?

It's too late, anyway, Kyla said softly. She put her books and pens away, got undressed, and got into bed.

Kyla was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow, so she didn't hear the last words of her yami:

Oh, no, Kyla. You see, it's not quite too late.

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Ina and Nareen both stared at the figure standing in the doorway of the temple.

"You!" Ina gasped. "You're the murderer."

"Yes, Ina. I am," Riana said, stepping further into the temple with an evil smile, holding a long bladed, jewelled dagger in her right hand.

"Nareen, I beg your pardon," Ina murmured, watching Riana warily.

"Why are you doing this?!" Nareen demanded.

Riana just smiled evilly. "For power," she replied. "With every sacrifice I perform, I get closer and closer to ultimate power. But, you two are incredibly smart... You'd figure out that it was me eventually. So I decided that I'd remove you both now. Besides, Ina, you are remarkably close to the Pharaoh. Too close, for someone who is below his station."

Ina and Nareen exchanged glances. They both knew that there was only one thing they could do. They had to keep Riana talking, until they were rescued, or until they could overpower or escape from Riana.

Ina and Nareen began to slowly edge away from each other. "What kind of power are you trying to achieve?" Nareen wanted to know.

Ina looked sharply at her friend. Now why would Nareen ask something like that? she wondered, feeling a little worried. Could she perhaps want the power for herself?

Riana's smile grew wider, and she moved back so that she could keep an eye on both Ina and Nareen. She wagged the index finger of her free hand. "That trick isn't going to work," she told them. "Nothing is going to save you... But I'll tell you of my plan anyway. I've wanted to tell someone. Besides, it's not like anyone is coming to rescue you."

"Do tell us," Nareen said. "We can't wait to hear of this new power."

She's acting, Ina suddenly realised. I can tell. I know that she's not being sincere. Ina never thought she'd be happy because of Nareen's talent for hiding her true feelings. She heaved an inaudible sigh of relief. Working together, she was sure that they'd be able to escape Riana. Well, almost sure, anyway.

"It has to do with absorbing people's souls into certain... objects... as they die," Riana explained. "Then I can use the objects, and their souls, to gain ultimate power!"

"And that's what you have planned for us, isn't it?" Nareen demanded.

Well, that got straight to the point, Ina thought to herself.

"Actually, yes," Riana answered. "That is what I have planned for the two of you. Both of you are extraordinarily gifted. Adding you to my 'collection' will add greatly to my power." She raised her dagger. "Now, the time for talk is over. Now is the time to die." And she threw her dagger directly at Ina's chest.

That was Riana's mistake. She had assumed that Nareen wouldn't care enough about Ina to try and save her. But she had been wrong, and that was going to cost her dearly.

Faster than the eye could see, Nareen streaked over to Ina, and pushed her out of the way of the dagger. However, she wasn't quite quick enough. The dagger scraped across her arm before clattering across the floor of the temple.

Riana's eyes narrowed. "So..." she breathed. "You have discovered your own power. Still, it is of no consequence. I can still destroy you both." She raised a strange silver stone, and a black light shot out of it towards Ina and Nareen.

However, before the light could touch either of them, a different light, this one white, surrounded Ina and Nareen, causing them to vanish into another realm.

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