[Kitty: Chapter 24.

Lina: This chapter will be very different from the others, and longer too.

Yugi: Yeah...while my friends and I are trapped in Noa's world, Kara's trapped in a Shadow-formed future...where she must escape from at all costs.

Kitty: R&R!]

Chapter 24: This Ain't Home!

POV: Kara

I awoke with a pounding headache, but I felt warm at least.

I opened my eyes, and nearly jumped out of bed at what I saw.

I wasn't in Kaiba's blimp. I was in a marble plastered bedroom, with gold tapestries and trinkets on the walls.

I looked around the room for something familiar, but there was nothing that looked like home...

Wait.

I looked out a window on the left wall to see a wide desert.

I was back in Egypt.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps echo off the marble floors.

I turned to see a girl there. She had light blond hair, bright green eyes and an Egyptian tan. She looked no older than 13.

I then noticed a boy behind her. He looked just like Marik...except he had green eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Ariel," the girl replied, gesturing to herself and the boy, "And this is my twin brother Kane."

I blinked. "Look, I don't really know what's going on here...the last thing I remember is Yami Marik-"

"Yami Marik?" Ariel repeated, "There's no Yami Marik here."

"But Marik's our father-" Kane started.

Ariel poked him in the ribs, but I stared.

"Marik is your father?" I repeated distantly.

Ariel sighed. "Yes," she said, "And you're our mother."

I gawked. "WHAT?"

"This is probably a shock," Ariel said calmly, "Y-you lost your memory in an accident recently-"

"I DID NO SUCH THING!" I yelled, "I REMEMBER BATTLE CITY! I REMEMBER THE PHARAOH! I REMEMBER JOEY!"

"Joey?" repeated Kane, "You mean that ruffian down in the palace dungeon?"

"Joey's here?" I asked.

"Yeah..." Ariel said, "You sent him to jail."

I felt my body go numb.

"Take me to him," I whispered.

"But-"

"Take me to him!" I hissed.

"Mother, we can't!" Kane said, "Father said to keep you in here and let you rest!"

"I don't need rest!" I snapped, "Either bring me to see Joey...or let me see your father."

Kane and Ariel exchanged looks.

"I think Father might excuse his meeting if you wanted to see him..." Ariel said slowly, "But only for a little while."

-!-Meanwhile, In the Real World-!-

POV: Malik

I'm becoming impatient.

The Pharaoh and his friends haven't returned yet, and without the Puzzle, I'll never become Pharaoh.

I stepped off the blimp and started into the mechanical landing the fools had followed.

No one shall be Pharaoh but me...

-!-The Shadow Realm-!-

POV: Kara

I was brought into the throne room, and up on the throne, I was hoping with all my heart it would be Marik.

It wasn't.

My eyes narrowed at Malik.

He stood up from his throne and his eyes went to the twins.

"Leave us," he said curtly.

They immediately and respectfully obeyed, as if they were servants instead of his children.

Malik then came down to me, smirking.

"So...how are you feeling, Kara?"

"Worse than I should," I growled, "What on earth is going on here?"

Malik blinked in feigned surprise. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know what the fuck I'm talking about!" I snapped, "Now why am I here? What damn stunt are you trying to pull, Malik?"

Malik smirked. "No stunt at all," he replied slyly, "Just a small punishment."

"For what?"

"Cheating on your boyfriend, my dear," he whispered, "Now that my Hikari is gone, I'm the only Marik, and I think you deserve some discipline."

What on earth was he talking about? I never cheated on Marik...

My eyes widened.

Joey...

-!-the Normal World-!-

POV: Malik

I smirked as I walked away from the blimp, and gripped my Millennium Rod tightly.

I love playing Kara's mind. And soon, her permanent home will be the Shadows...

And she'll be mine...forever.

POV: Ishizu

I went into Kara's room and looked at her unconscious form.

Marik's dark side might have put her in the Shadow Realm...but she can still escape from his clutches.

I sighed, and took off my Millennium Necklace. It hasn't worked for me since I was defeated by Kaiba in the Semi-Finals...and now I know who needs it.

I fastened my Necklace around Kara's neck.

Good luck, Kara...

-!-In the Shadow Realm-!-

POV: Kara

After Malik's and my conversation, I finally convinced the twins to help me sneak past the guards and into the dungeon.

"Ariel..." I whispered, "Why did I lock Joey up?"

"You said he took advantage of you," she replied.

I shivered as I remembered what Malik said about me "cheating" on Marik, but looked into the cells one by one, and finally, I saw a blond haired man in the corner.

It was Joey.

He looked awful. He was deathly skinny and pale, and his usually warm brown eyes were now dull and lifeless.

"Joey," I whispered, "Joey."

Joey's lifeless eyes looked over me. "Who's there?" he asked hoarsely.

"Joey, it's me. Kara."

"Kara...?" Joey tried to stand up.

"Shh," I whispered, "Don't stand up, Joey. I'll help you."

I grabbed the keys.

"What are you doing?" Kane demanded, looking shocked.

I looked at him. "I'm checking up on an old friend."

"But if you let him out, he'll kill you!" Ariel warned, "He's insane! He keeps muttering in his sleep! He says he's going to kill Father!"

"Your father...is a right old...bastard," Joey hissed.

Kane glared. "Our dad is no bastard, you are!"

"Kane, shut your mouth," I said sharply.

Kane stared at me. "But Mother-"

"That's enough," I snapped.

I unlocked Joey's cell door and sat down next to him.

"If you are insane, Joey," I whispered, throwing the keys on the floor outside of the cell, "Then kill me. But I first implore you to look into the eyes of the girl you're killing."

Joey struggled to look me in the eyes. His brown eyes locked with mine, and I fought not to cry at the pain and suffering I saw there.

Joey's eyes were sad, but I saw him smile. "Glad to know you're back to normal after all these years."

My eyes filled with tears of joy, and I embraced my friend. "Glad to know you didn't go insane, Joey."

Joey looked at me, and a little bit of the warmness returned to his eyes.

Ariel cautiously came behind me, and tried not to shiver as her eyes looked over Joey.

"So...this man...he's a friend of yours?" she asked.

I looked at her seriously. "A dear friend, Ariel."

"But...if Father finds out you've been down here...we could all be in big trouble," Kane whispered, "He forbade anyone but guards and himself to come down here."

"Now I know why," I whispered.

I looked at Joey. "Is anyone else here?"

"Serenity was here," Joey whispered, some tears forming in his eyes, "But a month ago, she was sold as a slave."

"Oh, Joey..." I hugged him. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Joey said gruffly, shoving away tears.

"And everyone else...?"

"Killed," Joey replied, "Right after Yami Marik beat Yugi. But there was a man here that was executed exactly two hours after he was brought in. He called himself...Roth, I think."

My eyes widened. "My brother..." I whispered.

"That man was your brother?" Kane repeated, "B-but Father said that he was a thief...and a liar!"

"Your father is the liar," I said coldly, "He lied to you, like the stinking bastard he is."

"Mother!" Ariel said in alarm, "You love Father! You always have!"

"No she hasn't," Joey said, his eyes not leaving the floor, "She loved the real Marik, not that his good-for-nothing Yami."

"What in the seven hells are you talking about?" Kane demanded, "What Yami?"

"The man you call your father," I said quietly, "Is actually a dark spirit who took over the man I love and raped me."

"What...?" Kane whispered, looking devastated.

"But..." Ariel said, mirroring her brother, "Father said you loved him...he said...he loved you..."

I looked at the floor.

"I won't deny he lusts after me," I replied quietly, "But I never loved him. Never."

My children looked hurt and betrayed, and I had to swallow down my shame.

"This stuff isn't important right now," Joey muttered, "What are we going to do now that these kids know?"

"I don't know," I whispered, "I really don't..."

Then I felt an otherworldly presence inside me, and all at once, I knew exactly what to do.

"Kane, go tell your father to expect an audience tonight. I'll be performing."

-!-An Hour Later-!-

"So, my darling," Malik asked me in a sarcastic tone, "What kind of entertainment are you giving us tonight?"

"A simple song, my dear husband," I said in feigned sweetness, "Right from the bottom of my heart."

I took to the stage, and Ariel started playing the piano to my song.

"I woke up this morning,

Now I understand,

What it means to give your life

To just one man.

Afraid of feeling nothing,

No bees or butterflies,

My head is full of voices,

And my house is full of lies.

This is home...home...

And this is home...home...

This is home."

-!-The Real World-!-

POV: Malik

My eyes widened in fury as I heard Kara sing those words, and I told the Shadows to punish her.

But they never responded.

My eyes widened in fury.

/Another Millennium Item is interfering!/

-!-The Shadow Realm-!-

POV: Kara

My daughter Ariel kept playing, and as she did, I could see tears go down her cheeks, as if each note made her aware of the true hate I had for my "husband."

Malik's associates enjoyed the performance, and I could see the Shadow Realm magic around them slowly drain out of them, showing nothing but blurred colors.

"I found you standing there,

When I was fourteen,

Now I'm twenty-seven, and

I can't remember what I'd seen in you.

I made a promise,

Said it everyday,

Now I'm reading romance novels,

And dreaming of yesterday.

This is home...home...

This is home...home...

This is home."

I closed my eyes as I sang the lyrics, not looking at Malik, but focusing of the real people in my life...

Marik...Joey...Yugi...Serenity...Ishizu...Roth...Odeon...

My friends. My family.

They were all here with me.

"I'd like to see the Riviera,

And slow dance underneath the stars,

I'd like to watch the sun come up

In a stranger's arms.

This is home...home...

This is home...home...

This is home."

I looked at Malik and smirked, as I added the new lyrics I'd written.

"You try to steal me

By killin' all my kin,

But let me tell you something:

You'll never, ever win.

For your Hikari's alive,

And he'll come back for me,

The Pharaoh will defeat you,

I've seen it in destiny.

Take me home...home...

Take me home...home...

Take me home."

And with that, I felt myself disappear in golden magic.

I was going back...

Ariel and Kane were crying, but they smiled as they waved goodbye to me.

"We love you, Mother!" they called.

I smiled, some tears leaving my eyes.

"I love you too," I whispered, as I finally vanished.

[Kitty: That's it!

Lina: (wide eyed) Whoa...SO TOTALLY COOL!!!!

Kitty: (grins) Reviews?

Lina: Uh...(looks) Six.

Yugi: (grins) And almost all of them have a little bit of Malik torture in them.

Marik: (grins) YES!

Kitty: Let's get them answered, shall we?

Mystic Chaos said:

(gasp) EVIL SICK MALIK!

Me: DIE! (throws food)

Helen: SICKO! (tosses French fries)

Me: (begins to throw squirrels)

Helen: (gets a fire hose and sprays)

Malik: GAH! (wet, food stuff on him, and squirrels in his hair and hanging onto his clothes)

Me and Helen: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Me: Now I'm happy.

Helen: Me too!...Why did we do all this to him?

Me: ...You didn't read the story right?

Helen: Nope, but it was fun torturing the crazed man.

Me: Okay...Well, YOU CONTINUED! YAY! UPDATE SOON!

Helen: YEAH! AND I'LL READ THE STORY!

Me: You better. (glare)

Helen: Bleh. (sticks tongue out)

Me and Helen: UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! (turns around and tortures Malik s'more)

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Kitty: (smiles) At least Helen will actually read my fic.

Malik: (still covered with food and squirrels, sopping wet and hanging from Kitty's chandelier) GRR... When I catch up with you two...

Kitty: You'll what? The Rod's back with Marik.

Marik: (smirks as he puts the Millennium Rod back into his pocket)

Malik: I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS! (struggles with the chandelier)

Kitty: (smirks) If you ever get down, I suppose.

Yugi: (smirks just like Kitty) Which I doubt is anytime soon, Malik.

Kani said:

interesting chapter. lol. I liked it

Up there there's so much room

Where babies burp and flowers bloom

Tomorrow night it is doomed

And so I will be coming soon

eh...nvm

Though you die, La Resistance LIVES ON

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Kitty: (grins) LA RESISTANCE! I LUV IT!

Lina: (takes Kitty's role of speaking in French) Nous l'adorons!

Kitty: And thank you!

Spirit of the Gauntlets said:

BAD, BAD, BAD MALIK!! BAD!! (throws month old banana cream pie at Malik) BAD! Anyway Kitty, (throws pie at Malik) your story is good (throws tomato at Malik) Keep writing (throws stuff from compost pile at Malik) And I'm glad to see you've updated (squirts Malik with water gun)

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Kitty: (smiles) Thankies!

Malik: (two pies smashed on his head, sticks and mud stuck to his robe and his hair died pink thanks to the tomato) Kitty, I despise your reviewers...

Kitty: And...? (blows on her nails) What do you want ME to do about that?

Malik: LET ME KILL THEM!

Kitty: (imitates Tea) But we should put our differences aside, and not just kill people because of misunderstandings...

Malik: (fumes)

MiraiTrunksLove said:

Poor Kara! Yami Marik, u BASTARD!

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Kitty: I agree totally.

Kara: (cries and glomps Marik)

Marik: Me too. (pats Kara's head)

Josephine Jekyl said:

oh my god how mean is that! well i gotta that is a mean punishment for Joey giving her a kiss isn't it? i hope it does get happier for her soon. when is Marik coming back? soon i hope? anyway good chapter considering what happened. update soon. you can't leave Kara like that.

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Kitty: Well, I didn't...unfortunately, it was only to put Kara in more torture... (sweatdrop)

Kara: At least I wasn't raped twice...

Kitty: True. And Marik was mentioned in Kara's new lyrics...at least we now know he's okay...

Meanae the Thorn said:

OH MY FUCKING GOD!

No offense but how the hell could you do that to Kara? I mean that's just... just... okay i can't think of a word to describe it but i will eventually. Malik scares me so I'm gonna throw the most horrible food in the Ra-damned world at him... Spinach! I'm evil I know. I love your story though. Please update soon!

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Kitty: (grins) I hate spinach too! (frowns) I just write what happens. Don't blame the messenger.

Kara: (cries) That's what happened...

Kitty: Thank you so much, though!

Malik: (still dangling from the chandelier and covered with spinach) KITTY!!!!!!!!

Kitty: Yes, Malik?

Malik: (struggles) GET...ME...DOWN...FROM HERE!

Kitty: Hmm...no, I think not.

Yugi: (smiles) R&R!]