Chapter Sixteen: Yami No Hikari

A/N: Hey guys! Yes, I'm still alive. Sorry it took me so long to update but writer's block has been cramping my style. But nevertheless I'm back with brand new ideas so I hope you enjoy the update and thanks for being patient with me.

Still in Flashback

Upon exiting the room she turned her head to face the sleeping Pharaoh and in a low whisper said, "I'm sorry..." She then whisked her head back around and walked out into the hallway, closing the door behind her.

End Flashback

"I still don't believe you! Kisara would never do such a thing!" Yami roared, still persistent in proving Kisara's innocence.

"Tsk, tsk...seems that girl has really messed with your head Pharaoh..." Kalika replied, inching ever so closer to Yami's face. "You've got to learn to think for yourself and not let others think for you. Kisara's a liar and a traitor. Always has been and always will be. So why don't you just accept the facts Atemu?" she cocked an eyebrow as Yami turned away.

"Never. Kisara's my friend and nothing else you say will change that! Arg!" Yami let out a painful cry as the water cufflings around his wrists tightened. "Damn it..."

"Now what were you saying?" An evil smirk played across Kalika's face.

"That Kisara's my friend and always will be no matter what..." Yami repeated weakly, his face strained from all the pain brought about by Kalika's torturing tactics.

"Well...we'll see if you still think that when you hear the rest of the story, won't we?" Kalika rhetorically responded.

Flashback

I can't believe I'm doing this. After everything the Pharaoh has done for me I go and betray him. But I guess it's for the best. I have to save Teana. Who knows what Kalika will do if I don't. As Kisara walked outside the palace doors, she didn't look back. She couldn't. If she did, she would never be able to leave. She found it hard enough as it was. Don't worry Teana, I'm coming and I'm not going to leave without you. Even if it means risking my own life. Suddenly a huge gust of wind blew in and Silver landed directly in front of Kisara.

"Hello again my priestess. Where are you off to in such a hurry?" the sapphire-covered dragon questioned, tilting its head to the side.

"Well...I'm on my way to rescue Teana..."

"What's that in your hands?" Silver asked, nudging the golden object with its snout.

"It's...the Sennen Puzzle. Kalika said that she would only release Teana if I brought her the Pharaoh's puzzle. Otherwise she threatened to feed Teana to the Gods as a human sacrafice in exchange for eternal life. I just couldn't let that happen..." Kisara explained, grasping the puzzle tightly.

"I see and so the only way to rescue Princess Teana is to give Kalika the Sennen Puzzle?"

Kisara hesitated for a moment before replying. "Yes. I know what I'm doing is wrong and that I shouldn't betray the Pharaoh but it's the only way to save the princess. I wish there was another way but there isn't, there just isn't..." The young priestess nearly broke out into tears.

"Actually, there is another way..." Silver spoke up.

"Really? What?" Kisara's interest was sparked when she heard those words come from the dragon's mouth. If there really was another way to save Teana then she wanted to know.

"It has to deal with the mystic Sennen items, most importantly, your Sennen Charm and Kalika's scepter."

"What about them?" Kisara's curiousity rose to a peak when she heard the mention of the Sennen items.

"Well your charm and Kalika's scepter are linked together spiritually. In other words, you can contact each other through your items," Silver explained as Kisara had a confused expression on her face.

"But how can that help?" she asked.

"Teana plays a large role in this act as well..."

"Huh? Teana? But she doesn't have a Sennen item, does she?" By now Kisara was getting even more confused.

"No but she is directly linked to Kalika's scepter, meaning that whatever message she receives, Teana will receive as well."

"I see...and you're sure this will work?" Kisara was beginning to have second thoughts about this whole thing. Maybe she was better off to rescue Teana the old-fashioned way.

"Don't worry. I've seen this done before...with your mother..." The mention of her mother made Kisara's eyes well up with deep, inner sadness. Her mother had died when she was only three years old so she never really got a chance to bond with her. Her father, on the other hand, abandoned her around the same time. He left to go off on a journey and never returned. That was when Pharaoh Atemu took her in. He realized how deprived she was...no mother, no father, not anything. So she grew up in the palace with Atemu whom she called her "father" and his wife whom she called "mother". Bringing up these past memories left Kisara in a state of mourning. "Priestess? Are you all right?" Silver asked, nudging Kisara's shoulder with his snout.

Kisara cast a glance in Silver's direction. "Yah, I'm...I'm fine..." she stuttered for the moment. "It's just...whenever someone speaks of my mother I always end up breaking down. I guess I must sound like a baby, huh?"

"No, not at all. You're quite the brave soul if I do say so myself. Everyone has something that they prefer not to talk about and everyone has at least once entered a brief mourning period in their life," Silver stated reassuringly.

"Really? Thanks Silver," Kisara replied, wiping away her tears. "Well, if we don't get side-tracked again, how about we try and contact the princess now?" the priestess asked, changing the subject.

"Good idea. The longer we wait, the more time Kalika will have to torture the poor princess..."

Kisara held out her Sennen Charm in the palms of her hands and began to chant a rather familiar Egyptian verse. As she spoke, the charm began to brightly shine an intense golden colour, so intense that you would need to shield your eyes for protection.

"Is it working? Can you sense anything?" Silver asked with grave curiousity.

Kisara, whose eyes had been closed during the whole process, slowly opened them and nodded her head in response. Suddenly, both Silver and herself heard a faint cry for help.

Priestess...Silver...help...me... the voice, which sounded rather strained, cried out.

"That sounded like Teana and it's coming from my Sennen Charm!" Kisara exclaimed, looking down at her small, golden object. "Teana, can you hear me? Are you all right?" She hoped with all her heart that Teana would respond.

She's coming...there isn't much time...please hurry...I'm running out of - Suddenly the connection was lost and all hope had died down.

"Teana! Teana no! Please hang on!" Kisara pleaded, hoping that Ra was watching over Teana and keeping her safe for as long as possible. She then fell to her knees in exhaustion. Using her Sennen Charm in order to contact Princess Teana drained her of a lot of energy and she needed time to rest. "I don't want to lose you too..." she murmured to herself. "I already lost one person that I held very dear to my heart and I don't want to lose another. That has turned into a habit with me, which is why I'm scared to make new friends...I'm scared that they're going to leave me...forever..." A few tears fell from her beautiful, angelic orbs onto the dusty ground beneath her.

"Do not worry my priestess. We will find her, even if it takes days. We will not rest until she is safe and sound back at palace where she belongs."

"Thank you Silver, I know you'll always be here for me, won't you?"

"Indeed I will."

Kisara nodded and started in the direction of Kalika's castle.

"Where are you going?" Silver questioned.

"To see Kalika and give her Sennen Puzzle in exchange for Teana's safety. Where else would I go?" was Kisara's response.

"Wouldn't you prefer a ride instead of walking all that way?" Silver offered.

"Sure. That is, if you wouldn't mind."

"It's no problem. I have nothing better to do." Silver lowered himself closer to the ground so that Kisara could hop on. Once she adjusted herself into a comfortable positon, Silver began flapping his giant-sized wings and rose up into the air.

"So how long do you think it will take before we reach Kalika's castle?"

"Not too long. With the way I fly it shouldn't take any time at all."

A smile formed on Kisara's face for the first time since she left the Pharaoh's palace. No matter what it took, no matter what the cost, she was going to save Teana, even it took all day and all night. She would fight to the bare end if it was necessary. She would not let someone's life be in vain. Not now and not ever.

End Flashback

"Just what are you trying to tell me? If you're trying to say that Kisara is a traitor then I don't believe you because in your little story she's willing to do anything to save Teana's life; even if it means giving up her own!" Yami shouted as the water cufflings tightened even more.

"Pharaoh...you just never learn...and I don't think your hikari does either..."

"What?" Suddenly Yami could no longer feel the presence of his light. "What have you done Kalika!" His voice was now etched with anger and hatred.

"Why silly, it's not what I've done, it's what you've done." In the blink of an eye, Yugi appeared unconscious in Kalika's arms.

"Yugi..." Yami's voice was almost silent but then almost immediately rose to a peak. "What have you done to him? Answer me! What have you done to Yugi!" His anger was now beginning to take control of him.

"I told you...you did this to him, not me. You forgot that your pain, is your hikari's pain as well. Plus, you have also forgotten that his body is weaker than yours, meaning that it does not take long for the pain to take its toll on him."

How could I have possibly overlooked my own hikari's safety? That's just not like me. Maybe my rage has begun to affect my mind...soon it may even cost Yugi his life if I don't figure out what to do and fast.

"So Pharaoh, shall I continue on with my story or do you wish to see your hikari suffer more?" Kalika taunted, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.

Through gritted teeth Yami forced a reply. "Just get on with it."

"Very well..." and with that Yugi disappeared and reappeared in an eighth cyclone of water. "He'll be safe there...for now..."

Yami's eyes narrowed and shot the deadliest glare Kalika's way. "If any harm befalls Yugi, you will pay! Understand?" Each word dripped with anger.

"Such strong words...yet they're useless just like you..." Kalika was obviously referring to the fact that Yami's movement was restricted due to the water cufflings that were binding him.

Yami remained quiet, figuring that if he said anything he would immediately lose his temper, letting his rage fully consume him. He shifted his gaze over to the eight cyclones of water holding his friends and hikari captive. I will free you my friends, I promise. I will not let any more harm come to you...I cannot allow it. Please, just hang on... His eyes remained focused primarily on Yugi and Subaru. Yugi simply for the fact that he was his hikari and their souls were, in a sense, intertwined, meaning that if one suffered from a great deal of pain, so did the other. Subaru, on the other hand, was a mystery to him. He felt as though he knew her from somewhere but yet he could not put his finger on it. The aura surrounding her also spoke of great mystery. Who is she? Where did she come from and why do I sense great power coming from her?

"Pharaoh..."

Yami looked back at Kalika. "What?"

"Oh nothing...just making sure you're aware of what's going on..." With those words, the cufflings tightened even more, nearly cutting off Yami's circulation.

Yami yelped in pain, trying to hold back the tears that were now forming in his eyes. I will not give up. I can't. For if I do, who will save Yugi and the others? I have to stay strong...for all of them...

"Now if they are no more interruptions..." Kalika cast a glare in Yami's direction. "I shall continue with my story."

Yami just nodded his head. He really wasn't in a position to argue.

END OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A/N: Well how was that chapter? I can't believe I finally got around to updating this fic! It's a miracle! lol! Anyway, hope you all enjoyed it and yes, before you ask, the history is still in progress. I told you before that history plays a very important role in this fic. That's why I find it so hard to write. Well, please review and tell me your honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks. Luv ya! Ja ne!