"Arise from Darkness"
By Heikou and Janime
Chapter Six
Merge and Divided
"I just don't get it, Yugi," Tea said into the phone. "Why can't things just be normal?"
"Life would get boring," her boyfriend tried to cheer her up.
Tea sighed. "I guess so."
Yugi frowned slightly at her saddened tone. He hated when Tea was depressed. "Tea, I'm certain that Cheri will be fine. The weekend's going to be smooth and Cheri's going to have the best medical treatment available."
"The joys of having a millionaire boyfriend," Tea couldn't help smiling. "Did you figure out what Cheri said to Bakura?"
"Afraid not; I still don't understand what it means: 'where the favorite lies'."
"And merging with it--that's very weird."
"Yeah," agreed Yugi as he looked at the clock. "Listen, I'll give you a call in the morning, okay?"
"Alright, Yugi, good night."
"Good night, Tea. I love you."
"I love you, too." She placed the phone in the cradle and scooted down on her bed, pulling the sheet up over her waist. Tea closed her eyes.
~
The grass looked alive but it was disfigured in some way. All around her, the buildings were distorted and the grand Dueling Temple stood in the middle of the park.
"Can you see it, Daughter of Osiris?" a strong, yet gentle female voice spoke. She sounded so familiar. "This is what will happen if the barrier falls."
Tea spun around to find the speaker. "Who are you?"
A figure dressed in a light blue outfit with blonde hair and green eyes holding a scepter appeared before her.
Tea blinked. "Dark Magician Girl…?"
"I am your Deck Master," the DMG bowed respectfully, "and I would be a fool to allow you to suffer the fate that the Daughter of Isis has forewarned the High Priest."
Kaiba… Tea thought. "Who is the Daughter of Isis?"
"Forgive me, but I cannot say," DMG shook her head. "I can only warn you that what happened to the Daughter of Anubis will soon happen to you and the Daughter of Ra."
"How do we stop it?"
"Merge with your favorite."
"I know that line but what does it mean?" Tea walked closer to the DMG. "What favorite?"
DMG smiled. "You always have it with you." She started to float upwards, and placed her hand on Tea's forehead. "I wouldn't allow anything to happen to you in the digital world, nor will I allow any calamity to befall you now."
She blinked but when she opened her eyes once more she found herself back in her bedroom. Sitting up she looked around her room, thinking about what the female spellcaster had said.
My favorite has always been with me? she thought and looked up as the poster of said Duel Monster. She helped me in that digital duel against Nightmare Penguin. She believed in me and I believed in her so because of that and Yugi's Dark Magician we won. She also said she wouldn't let anything happen to me but what if we can't find the answer? She hugged her knees to her chest tightly as she resisted the urge to cry. "I'm so scared..."
~
"I'm so glad you two made it there alright," Keriam said into the phone. "No, we'll be okay. We know how Uncle Zack's job does this to you two but hey, you'll be back in time for graduation." She looked at Joey who smirked at her with a twinkle in his eye. "Okay, Auntie, love you both. Bye."
"So they're safe?" Joey asked as his girlfriend hung up the phone.
"Yes, they're at the hotel and-" Keriam was stopped mid-sentence by a passionate kiss and the next thing she knew, she was on the couch with Joey on top of her.
He broke the kiss and looked into her hazy green eyes. "Would you like to take a shower?" he asked with a seductive grin.
"As long as I get to wash you first," Keriam grinned and pulled Joey down into another kiss.
The phone rang and Joey growled but he didn't stop kissing Keriam. The answering machine picked up after the fourth ring with Zack's voice greeting the caller. "Hello, you are talking to a machine. I am capable of receiving messages. My owners do not need siding, windows or a hot tub, and their carpets are clean. They give to charity through their office and do not need their picture taken. If you're still with me, leave your name and number and they will get back to you."
*BEEP*
"Hi, Keriam, it's Cheri."
At the sound of her best friend's voice, Keriam pushed Joey off of her, sending the poor blonde to the floor as she jumped over the couch and grabbed the phone. "Cheri! Are you okay?"
"That hurt," Joey grunted as he stood up and rubbed his backside.
"Yes and no. Keriam... I have to tell you something really important but I don't have a lot of time," she said quietly. "You and Tea must find the answer to the riddle or else you'll suffer the same fate as myself."
"But Cheri, Bakura said you know the answer to the riddle. What is it?"
"You won't believe it but it's been under our nose the entire time." She weakly laughed before coughing. "Right under our nose..."
No... her voice is getting weaker! "Cheri please, tell me the answer!" she said, gripping the phone with both hands now.
"Ker, the answer lies within ourselves... Remember that episode, where the gang met Yami and Bakura for the first time?"
"You mean that Shadow Game?"
"Just remember what he asked... Where does your favorite lie?" With that said there was a click and the line went dead.
"Cheri? Cheri?!" No answer. Biting her lip she looked at the caller ID and hit the redial button. The receptionist at the front desk of the hospital answered and quickly transferred the call to Cheri's room. Inside Rose looked up and answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Dante, I need to speak with Cheri. It's Keriam."
"Keriam? Honey I'm sorry but you can't talk to her right now."
"But I have to she just called me!"
"... That's impossible she couldn't have possibly called you."
"Why not?"
"Because... she's in a coma." She looked at where her daughter lay, hooked up to an IV stand with the heart monitor beeping softly.
"A coma…"
Joey walked around the couch and stood behind Keriam.
"But she just called me!" Keriam protested. "I swear! I would never make something like this up! Mrs. Dante, you know me!"
"Keriam, I've been here for over an hour. She hasn't moved and her vital signs haven't changed either."
But she called me… Keriam thought, I know she did…
"I'll call you tomorrow if there's any change, okay?" said Rose.
"… Okay…" Keriam whispered and hung up the phone. She looked at the answering machine and hit the play button.
"You have no messages," the electronic voice spoke.
"But Cheri called…" Keriam said. "She's in a coma… but she called me…"
Joey wrapped his arms around Keriam's waist and hugged her. "You want me to call Seto?"
Numbly, she nodded and allowed Joey to lead her back to the couch and sat down. Joey picked up the phone and dialed the CEO's number.
"Kaiba."
"What the hell is going on?"
"Good evening to you too, mutt. I take it that Mrs. Dante called you."
"No, she didn't," said Joey as he started to pace. "But before I tell you how we found out, how long has Cheri been in a coma?"
"Since she passed out in the nurse's office this afternoon," Seto answered.
"Here's a surprise for you: Cheri called here."
There was a long pause, and then, "How is that possible?!"
"Eardrum, Seto!" Joey yelped. "I'd like to keep it, thank you!"
"I swear if this is some sick joke-" he started to threaten.
"Look I don't like you but I wouldn't stoop this low!!" the blonde yelled angrily.
"... Let me talk to Keriam."
"Kaiba-"
"Keriam. Now."
Growling he turned the phone over to his girlfriend. "Mr. High-and-Mighty wants to talk to you."
She looked at the phone before slowly taking it and held it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Keriam, did Cheri actually talk to you? If so, how can that be?"
"I don't know…" Keriam's voice broke as tears ran down her cheeks. "Seto, I swear to Ra that she called. The answering machine picked up and we both heard her but… when I played back the message, it wasn't there."
She heard him sigh and then mumble something that she couldn't make out. "Did she say anything?"
"She said that Tea and I have to answer the riddle or we'll suffer the same fate as her. And that the answer has been right under our noses the entire time."
"You aren't going to have that fate, Keriam," Seto promised. "Neither is Tea and we'll find the riddle's answer."
"… Okay…"
"I'm going to have Cheri moved to the medical facility at Kaiba Corp tomorrow morning. If you want to come and see her, I'll let the staff know that you're coming."
"I appreciate that, thank you."
"Try to get some sleep, Keriam. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Seto hung up his phone.
Slowly, she did the same but clung to her boyfriend tightly as he held her to his chest. "She called me... you heard it too. Right?" She looked up at him as more tears threaten to fall.
"Yeah, I heard her loud and clear," he said softly, reaching up to gently wipe the tears away. "But this is just too weird."
"Tell me about it. But, if she's in a coma how did she call me?"
"No idea, babe. No idea whatsoever." Holding her close he rubbed her back, silently rocking back and forth as they continued to sit on the couch. Find the answer under our nose... you couldn't have given us a better clue?
~
"Where's Bakura?" Malik asked.
"In his soul room," answered Ryou. "He's locked himself in and despite my attempts, he won't come out."
Marik sat on the counter, his right leg drawn up as he stared off into space. The spirit was indeed worried about Cheri, and his fear increased as he thought about what would happen to Keriam if they didn't find the answer to the riddle the Daughter of Isis gave them.
"Are you okay, Ryou?"
"I guess so…" the white-haired boy said. "I am worried about Cheri, but I'm also worried about Tea and Keriam. The question is which one will be next?"
~Probably Tea,~ Marik spoke. ~If you look at the line of succession with their gods, Ra was the first, Osiris is next, and then Anubis.~
"It's reversed," said Malik.
"Then what do we do to keep it from happening?" Ryou asked.
~What else? Solve the riddle,~ Marik said quietly.
"Ryou, do you know if Cheri said anything before she went into the coma?" Malik asked as gently as he could.
He sighed deeply as he ran his hands through his hair. "You'll have to ask Bakura about that. When I returned to the auditorium our link was, I guess you can say strained. I could hear them talking but I don't know of what. It was like trying to listen to a conversation through a brick wall."
~Then I think it's time he indulge us with what he knows. Ryou, can I see the ring for a minute?~
"Marik, what do you have planned?" his light asked.
~I'm going to try and enter his soul room. If he won't come out here, then I'll just have to go in and talk with him.~
Ryou and Malik looked at each other.
"It's not like they haven't both been in my body before," said Ryou.
Malik crossed his arms. "That's what concerns me."
~I couldn't do anything then,~ Marik said, ~I can't do anything now. However, Malik, I am going to need your help.~
"Why am I not surprised?"
Marik settled inside his light and took over. He reached across the kitchen table, taking the Millennium Ring in his left hand and placed his right hand on Ryou's forehead.
"Any message for the thief?" Marik asked.
"Just that I'm worried as much as he is."
Nodding he closed his eyes and concentrated. From beneath his hand the ring began to glow ever so lightly. Marik tensed as he felt his spirit enter the Millennium Ring, leaving Malik to keep up the contact. Ryou gasped as he felt something strange but otherwise kept still. The ring stopped glowing and Malik opened his eyes.
"Marik?"
~I'm in but I can feel the ring trying to drive me out. I won't have a lot of time,~ he explained quickly.
"Be careful." They just hoped everything worked out in the end.
Marik found himself before a wooden door, bit old-fashioned but it looked strong enough to hold. Reaching up he went to knock but before he could touch it the door silently swung open with a low creak. He pushed it open more and was met with a room of utter darkness.
"Bakura?" he called out. His voice seemed to echo around the room. How big is his soul room? he thought to himself and hesitantly took a step inside. "Bakura, it's Marik."
"Go away," came the answer as it vibrated around the room.
"How long are you going to hide in here?"
"Leave me alone."
"Damnit Bakura we need to talk!"
"I have nothing to talk about so get out or I'll throw you out."
"Fine. You want Cheri to die in a coma be my guest!" Just as he was about to leave he felt a stinging pain in the back of his head. Cursing he reached up to touch the lump but felt hands turn him around and slam him against the wall.
The former thief glared at him angrily as he suppressed the urge to strangle the other spirit. "You, have no idea how I feel right now so don't even try to second guess me!" he growled behind clenched teeth.
Marik was surprised but on the plus side at least he wasn't moping around in this dark room. "Does that mean you'll come out and tell us what Cheri said to you?"
"... No. Besides, all she asked was where my favorite lies." He released him and turned away. Slowly the darkness lifted as it revealed a bed with a table and chair made of dark, polished wood. Wordlessly he sat on the edge of the bed. "I've been thinking about it over and over but it doesn't make a lot of sense."
"So... you can't help us." Moving a bit cautiously Marik went to the table and pulling the chair out, turned it so he was sitting backwards on it.
"I didn't say that but I remember asking that same question a long time ago. Back, when I first met the pharaoh and all his little friends."
"So what happened?" Marik asked.
"Played a game--a Shadow Game to be precise, and I used Ryou and the others as pawns."
"Very nice."
"It was rather interesting…"
Marik noticed him pause. "What is it?"
"… Nothing," Bakura said.
"There's something you aren't telling me."
"It's nothing. Look I told you all I know okay so leave me alone."
"... Fine you win." Getting up he pushed the chair to the table and made to leave but looked at him once more. "I know how you feel."
Bakura snorted. "Yeah, right."
"I know what it's like to love someone you know you can never have." Not waiting for a reply he headed for the door but before stepping out of the room he called over his shoulder. "Message from Ryou: he's just as worried as you are."
The door closed silently and Marik gasped as the ring pushed him out.
Malik pulled back and blinked. "That felt... weird."
Ryou reached up to touch the ring. ~Bakura?~ No answer. "I guess he didn't want to come out."
~No... and right now he's not gonna be very helpful,~ Marik said as he separated and looked at the boys. ~Sorry but I did what I could.~
"It's okay," said Ryou and he sighed. "I wish he would open up more."
~Hell would freeze over.~
The phone rang and Malik answered. "Hello? Yugi, what's wrong?"
Marik and Ryou looked at him.
"She is? He did? What about Keriam? Okay, we'll be there shortly." Malik hung up the phone. "Tea's in a coma. Seto had them moved to the medical center at Kaiba Corp."
~What about Keriam?~ Marik demanded.
"She's with them but she's not doing too good."
~It's happening but this is too soon.~
Malik said nothing as he quickly picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Malik, who are you calling?" the young boy asked as he grabbed his jacket.
"Ishizu. And I'm telling her to bring the Millennium Necklace."
~
Rose checked the charts once more as she looked at the machines beeping softly. So far their heart rates and blood pressure seemed normal but their body temperatures were dropping little by little. She couldn't explain it and she wanted both girls at the hospital but Kaiba Corp was better equipped with the latest technology and security.
Mrs. and Mr. Gardner were worried sick but she could give them no explanation as to what had happened. They had left for home an hour ago but she promised to call them if anything changed. Setting the charts down she sighed and looked at the friends who had come to help. She also noticed how Keriam seemed weak and pale. God we may need another bed soon, she thought to herself grimly.
A hand touched her shoulder causing her to jump slightly and turn. "Seto."
"Rose," he said quietly, "it's late. You should get some sleep."
"I can't leave Cheri--she's my baby." Rose mentally kicked herself for saying the last word.
Seto seemed unaffected by the statement but inside it did hit a chord. "You need to rest," he said, "I promise I will call you as soon as anything changes." Seto hated the fact that he was sending Rose away from her daughter but they needed to keep what was happening to the Sisters very quiet.
"... Alright but I will be back later." She rubbed her eyes before nodding to him. "Take care of her."
"You have my word." He watched as she slowly left and it took everything he had not to call her back.
Ryou and Malik just arrived and accompanying them were Rashid and Ishizu. "Seto, what happened?" Ryou asked.
"Tea's parents tried to wake her up this morning but they couldn't and she was cold to the touch. Cheri's conditions haven't changed either," he said in an emotionless tone.
Marik separated and knelt before Keriam, seeing how pale she seemed. Reaching out he rested his hands on her clenched hands. ~Don't worry, we'll figure this out before it gets to you,~ he told her in a gentle voice.
Keriam looked at him distantly and slowly nodded.
Marik stood up and walked over to Yugi who stood beside Tea's bed. ~How is she?~
"No change," the shorter boy answered quietly.
Tristen walked into the room. "Joey told me what happened," he said and looked at the two unconscious girls, glancing at the one still awake.
Yami slowly separated and looked at the young dancer then at his light. ~Yugi...~
"If I had been there I could've helped her..."
"Hey don't kick yourself like that," Tristen spoke up, moving to rest his hand on his shoulder.
"But I talked to her last night; maybe if I had talked to her a bit longer..."
~Tristen's right. Unless we find the answer to the riddle all the Sisters will suffer the same fate.~ He looked up and met the blonde's gaze as he held the brunette tighter.
Ishizu slowly moved over and reaching out lightly rested her hand on Cheri's forehead. With the other hand she reached up to touch the necklace and closed her eyes.
~
"There was more to the story, Agalameia, but we do not know what happened."
"Why not, mother?"
"Some of the knowledge was lost over time. A few lessons that were very important have been forgotten. The Sisters of the Moon that lived long before our time decided that it wasn't necessary to pass on some of the teachings from the Daughter of Isis."
"Will Isis teach them to us?"
The older woman looked at her daughter and smiled. "Maybe she will, and perhaps the Daughter of Isis will teach them to you and your Sisters herself."
~
Ishizu lowered her hand and sighed.
~Anything?~ Marik asked.
"Only a memory of when Cheri was Agalameia and her mother then talking to her," Ishizu opened her eyes. "She said that maybe the Daughter of Isis would teach the Sisters of the Moon the lessons that had been lost."
"Now would be a good time," Joey muttered under his breathe.
Seto didn't say anything but what was there left to say? "Keriam, is there anyway you can speak to Isis yourself?"
"I don't know," she said weakly. "Back then when I prayed to her, sometimes she answered, other times she didn't."
"Have you prayed to her recently?" asked Ishizu.
Keriam nodded. "For Amierla to be judged fairly and forgive her ways. I guess she answered because I dreamed about Amierla and she was very happy where she was."
"Wait, doesn't praying to the gods take a lot of energy out of you?" Joey asked.
"Depending on the prayer," his girlfriend answered. "Because it takes a lot of energy to send it quickly to the god or goddess you send it to. For this, it will take a lot out of me."
"We have to chance it," said Rashid.
"No way!" Joey tightened his arms around Keriam.
~It's the only way,~ said Malik.
~Joey, please,~ Yami spoke.
"Listen, mutt," Seto walked over to the couple. "Nobody wants what's happening right now to continue. If there's a way for Keriam to ask Isis for help then she should do it. Or do you prefer seeing her waste away right before your eyes?"
He glared at the CEO angrily for suggesting such a thing but before he opened his mouth he took a good look at everyone, seeing how scared, nervous, and fearful they were he took a look at where Tea and Cheri were laying in a coma. With each passing second their temperatures dropped and their skin grew paler. He didn't want to admit it but if they didn't answer the riddle soon they would die... and Keriam would soon join them. Closing his eyes tightly he embraced her tightly.
"I don't like it... but we don't have a choice. Promise you won't leave me," he whispered to her as he tried to be strong.
Keriam smiled and kissed him softly. "As long as you're by my side." Taking a deep breathe she clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and prayed with all her heart. "Mother Isis, hear my prayer."
A light golden glow enveloped Keriam. Everyone in the room watched and waited anxiously while Keriam silently prayed. The glow around Keriam began to flicker violently before vanishing and she started to fall over.
"Keriam!" Joey cried as he caught her and went to his knees on the floor, holding her tightly in his arms. Ryou and Malik raced over to them.
"... Bakura..." the brunette said weakly. "... Your duel... with Yami..."
The thief spirit appeared beside his light and looked at her. ~What about it?~
"... Cheri was right..." Keriam reached into her pocket and pulled out two Duel Monster Cards. "It was all... under our noses... Bakura... the duel... Ryou's favorite... was in... your hand... Yami... held the other... favorites..."
Before any of them could ask what she was talking about, Keriam's eyes slid shut and the cards slipped from her hand. Joey picked Keriam up and placed her on the bench.
"A lot of good that did," he growled angrily.
Seto leaned down, picked up the two cards and looked at them. A Polymerization Card and Wingweaver.
The Sisters must merge with their favorite...
Seto's eyes widened.
Where does your favorite lie?
The Wingweaver was Keriam's favorite Duel Monster Card.
"That's it..." Seto whispered then aloud, "That's it!"
Everyone looked at the CEO.
"That's what she meant by their favorite!" Seto turned to them. "Their favorite Duel Monster! Keriam's favorite is Wingweaver, Cheri's is Performance of Sword."
"What are you talking about?" Tristen asked.
Seto held up the two cards. "They have to merge with their favorite Duel Monster."
~That's what Cheri was talking about,~ said Bakura as he turned to Yami. ~Our duel when the others were their favorite cards on the playing field.~
~I remember... But we don't have Tea's deck. How are we going to merge her with her favorite?~ Yami asked.
"I have her favorite card..." Yugi whispered and pulled out his deck. Looking through the cards he smiled and held it up to see. "In the digital duel she used Dark Magician Girl as her deck master and it was because of her that Nightmare Penguin was beaten!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's do this before they get worse!" Joey yelled at them.
"Wait does this mean their souls will locked in their cards like ours were?" Ryou asked.
The spirits looked at one another. ~I don't know... but if its to save them what choice do we have? Seto, do you have Cheri's card?~
He reached into his coat and pulled out the card. "This had better save her, thief."
Bakura paused for a moment. ~I used the Ring on all of them but Tea's powers were still dormant then.~ He looked at Yugi, Ishizu, and Seto. ~We might have to use all the Items this time.~
Seto walked over to Cheri and turned off the heart monitor. After removing the wires from her chest, he lifted her into his arms. "We better bring them down to the dueling lab," he said, "this way we can avoid attention from the staff."
"Good idea." Yugi removed the wires from Tea and picked her up.
Joey lifted Keriam from the bench and everyone quietly left the room.
They quickly walked over to the next building and entered the Dueling Lab.
"Mokuba!" Seto yelled upon seeing his brother dueling against the computer.
"I've got the safety on!" he replied and destroyed the computer's monster.
"Winner: Mokuba," the electronic voice announced.
"Yes!" the younger Kaiba removed his deck from the duel disk and turned around. "What's going on?"
"You're about to see a new kind of merging," Marik said, now in control of his light's body.
Seto, Yugi, and Joey gently lay the Sisters of the Moon on the floor. They each placed the Sister's favorite Duel Monster and Polymerization card on their chests.
The three yamis and CEO stood in a circular formation as Ishizu stood behind her brother. Bakura nodded and closing his eyes focused everyone into the ring. Yami did the same followed by Seto as he held the rod out, and Ishizu closed her eyes; Marik closed his eyes as he felt the necklace's power flow into him. Soon the items were glowing brightly. Lifting their hands they channeled the ancient magic into the cards and before everyone's eyes the cards slowly began to glow.
Without warning, the Sisters' bodies lifted into the air, the cards circled them faster and faster until they resembled nothing but a blur. One by one the girls' bodies began to glow their significant color and judging by the sudden gasp from Tristen, the glow was bright enough to be seen by those that didn't have special sight.
"What's going on?" Mokuba asked as he watched with awe.
"We're gonna try to save their lives, kiddo," Joey said as he watched closely.
"By the magic of Polymerization we merge the Sisters of the Moon with their favorite!" the boys called out and quick as lightning the cards entered the girls' chest.
The area was surrounded by a bright light Yami, Bakura, and Malik cried out as their bodies were engulfed by the golden light of the items. They didn't know what was happening but for some reason they felt themselves getting pulled out of their hosts' bodies and began to feel heavy. An explosion of light made everyone cry out and look away but when it died they could only stare. The Sisters were on their feet but they were dressed as their favorite Duel Monsters.
Keriam wore a soft yellow outfit with blue stones and had six glorious white wings sprouting from her back; Tea looked just like the female spellcaster dressed in blue and pink with the specter held tightly in her hand; Cheri was dressed in loose pants with a sash and a small top but bore heavily bladed cuffs on her wrists. One by one their eyes opened and they looked at themselves in sheer surprise.
"Oh my god!!" Tea blushed madly as she tried tugging the outfit up her chest then tugged down as it lifted. "Who made this outfit like this?!"
"W-Whoa!" Keriam tired hard to stay balance as all her wings spread in different directions. "I keep falling over!"
Cheri nearly hit the floor as the unfamiliar weight of the blades dragged her down, digging into the floor deeply. She tried lifting her arms but fell back to her knees. "Hey!! I can't lift my arms-" She blinked and took a better look at Ryou. Wait, does he have two heads? Her eyes widen and she began to blush. "Um Ryou? You... might want to look to your left."
"You too, Yugi," Keriam said with the same expression on her face as Cheri.
Ryou and Yugi did and they found themselves looking at their darker halves who were now solid.
And naked.
Yelping, the two lights quickly took their jackets off and wrapped them around the two no longer spirits' waists.
"Well..." Tea said with a large blush across her cheeks.
"Hey, Cheri," Keriam looked at her best friend with a rather interesting grin, "I've been wanting to say this for over a year."
"What?"
"The doujinshi underestimated."
"Yes, indeed they did!" Cheri grinned.
"What's a doujinshi?" Mokuba asked.
"A short manga created by a fan that's based on their favorite anime," Keriam explained. But the ones we had were definitely NOT for children. She looked to her right, seeing the Ishtar family standing side by side, and the youngest male was shirtless. "Um... Marik?"
He nodded.
"Where's Malik?"
Marik looked at Ishizu and Rashid before reaching behind himself and led out a shorter version of himself, minus the gold jewelry and wearing the shirt.
"This bites," Malik grumbled.
Bakura burst out laughing while everyone else stared in shock at the now ten-year-old Malik.
"What... happened?" Yami asked as he kept a tight hold on the jacket as if it was his lifeline.
"You know that pull we felt? I think the excess power gave the spirits of the puzzle and ring a solid form," Malik grumbled.
"But why are you a kid?" Tristen asked as he tried not to stare at the girls.
"I don't know but I will say this; Malik, you are just too cute," Cheri commented with a smile. Malik blushed madly as everyone laughed softly.
Joey moved to his love's side as he removed his jacket but how was he going to drape it on her shoulders? "Hey Keriam, you think you can fold your wings or something?"
"I can try." She closed her eyes and slowly, the wings lowered and folded against her back. Joey placed the jacket around her shoulders but the tips of the feathers were still visible.
Tea gave up on trying to tug the outfit to cover herself and lifted a hand as her hat fell over her eyes. "So you guys found the answer to the riddle."
"You weren't kidding when you said it was under our noise," Yugi gave a half smile.
Seto went over to Cheri's side and keeping his arms around her waist, helped her up. "You're right, those things are heavy."
"It's getting easier to handle but I'm afraid to hug you now," she sighed softly. "I never, want to go through that again."
"It could have been worse; your favorite card could have been Battle Ox."
"Wonder what would've happened if I said Gemini Elves was my favorite."
"Now that I would have paid to see!" Bakura commented loudly.
"Be quiet! How are we going to explain this?" Ryou asked. "We can't say we just found out we had long lost brothers."
"Can't we talk about this where we can have more privacy?" Malik asked; he kept pulling down on the shirt making sure it didn't go any higher about his mid-thigh. "And covered decently?"
"Good idea," Ishizu agreed.
Rashid removed his cloak and wrapped it around Malik, giving the boy more coverage. Seto walked out of the room and returned with two lab coats, handing them to Bakura and Yami.
"Thank you," Yami said as he put it on, while Yugi held the jacket until the Pharaoh was now covered properly.
Bakura let Ryou's jacket drop.
"BAKURA!!" his light yelled. "The girls!!"
"So what?" the thief buttoned the lab coat. "They've already seen the promised land."
"I doubt they want to buy property," said Marik.
Tea already had her back turned but for good measure was keeping her eyes covered. Joey was glaring at the thief as he wrapped his arms around Keriam tightly, holding her close and Cheri was staring at the ceiling.
"Hey why didn't you cover your eyes?" Tristen asked.
She held up her wrists. "And risk making myself blind? You want to feel how much they weight?"
Yugi pulled his jacket back on and touched his girlfriend's arm, letting her it was okay to look. "So where to now?" he asked.
Author's Note: Heikou: Oh lord, I would have probably stared or fainted.
Janime: I would've stared.
Heikou: Now I know a lot of people don't like Tea but she really is a cool character! She's pretty, smart, nice, sticks up for herself, can hold her own, can duel (better than Joey, I mean she beat him in the beginning).
Janime: Hey!! .
Heikou: And it's not really certain if she likes Yami in the anime. Besides, it's a crush and look at us! We drool over fictional characters so what do you call that? If you like Tea good for you, if you don't that's your own business. Look at this link and tell me you don't think this isn't gorgeous.
www .janime .biz / images / FanArt / anzu / 01/12 .jpg
Janime: Sorry about the spaces but it'll disappear if we leave it connected. It's pretty. Man, I wish I could draw.
Heikou: But you write so well!
Janime: Aw, thank you. So do you.
Heikou: Especially on the lemons we cut out from this fic.
Janime: (LOL) Well, they're permitted to have at least one good dream.
