A/N: This is a long chapter and a lot happens so I'll keep this short. Just a couple things: First, the five parts of the soul mentioned in here are legitimate. Look them up if you want. It's very interesting.

Secondly, I literally listened to the song Icarus by Ivan Torrent for 7 hours straight while writing this. No joke. Also, that song is Helios's character theme, FYI. It's beautiful. Listen to it ASAP,

Lastly, shoutout to one of my reviewers zelka94. She's drawing fanart for this. FANART! I've never for something I've written before. So. Freakin'. Excited. Y'all, she can draw like nothing else. Stay awesome zelka94.

Chapter summary: In which that which was lost is found, Judgement is swift, and the shot felt through the realities is fired.

Lost and Found

"Do you feel that?"

"I do."

"Do you think he's alright?"

A sigh. "If he's not, he's unlikely to tell us."

Yugi slumped in depression. "I thought... I mean, I thought he knew by now that if he ever needed help, all he had to do was ask."

Yami pulled Yugi close, resting his chin on his partner's head. "His pride is a huge part of him. This was true even when he was Set. He as grown over the past several years, but a few years of trust is hardly enough to undo years of abuse. The fact he's grown as much as he has, as fast as he has should be applauded."

"I know," Yugi said. "I am proud of him. He's a loyal friend." He sighed and tangled his fingers in his Ka's. "Any news from Egypt?"

"Marik reported in late last night," Yami confirmed. "The majority of the work has stopped due to internal politics at the museum."

"Courtesy of Marik, I bet," Yugi snickered.

"Marik and Ishizu, actually," Yami answered. "Turns out, Ishizu has a much higher standing in the eyes of the museum than Carter Hall. When she throws her weight around, people notice."

"Are you implying she's fat?" Yugi teased.

"If you mean fat with power, then yes," Yami said seriously. "She and her family have had a close relationship with the museum for generations and have provided most of the artifacts on display there. If Ishizu pulls out, she takes everything her family let the museum display with them. Naturally, the people in charge don't want that so they're listening to her."

Yugi leaned back. "That's...wow. I mean I knew she had some sway with them, but not to that extent."

"But it does make sense considering the different thing's she's been allowed to get away with," Yami commented. Yugi shrugged and nodded as his Ka continued. "That said, she warned us Kaiba has not been...well."

"From his tomb being uncovered, you mean?" Yugi asked. "I don't blame him. I can't imagine what it feels like. His body is still there." Yugi stiffened at a thought. "His body is still there. What if they try to open his sarcophagus without any of us there?"

"I doubt it would do much damage except to the sarcophagus itself unless..." Yami's eyes bulged. "His Ba."

"The only reason you appeared in my mind instead of others even when other people had control of the Millennium Puzzle was because I'm your Ba, your body" Yugi began. "I can't imagine... We never had a body to bury because it was destroyed. Kaiba still has his mummified body which his soul would recognize as its own. But since Kaiba's a Ka, he could resist the urge to go to it."

"He's the spiritual part of the soul," Yami agreed, nodding seriously. "The idea of a physical body is not something he absolutely needs."

"Especially, since he already has his own reborn body. But Seth is a Ba and can't exist without a body to dwell in. Like DOMA when the Seal took me." Yami flinched at the memory and Yugi squeezed the former Pharaoh's hand tenderly. "The only reason I could survive that was because I was held in a stasis and my physical body was still occupied by you."

"The Ka is the life force allowing the Ba to live," Yami murmured as if repeating an age old mantra. "The Ba is the personality and essence of the person. The Ren is the name, the absolute truth of the individual. The Sheut, the shadow, is the strands holding the parts of the soul together in the web of existence. The Ib beats in the chest connecting the Ka to the Ba, giving life to the Ba, powering the Sheut strands, and bound by the Ren. Together,they are the Akh, the perfect, whole construct."

"Akh," Yugi breathed. "What that was what Helios meant when he said he sensed godhood in us? Maybe he could sense the Akh in us."

"Or maybe he sensed it in Kaiba when his soul unified to become Set reborn," Yami said shrewdly. "And with that to go on, he sensed something similar in all of us."

"So if we unified our soul," Yugi gasped, "we would be Atem reborn just like Set. A full, complete Akh." Yugi sat back in astonishment. "I knew we are Atem when unified but to be a full Akh..."

"Yes, that explains a lot. If Kaiba is still connected to his former body then it is likely he's experiencing the discomfort of someone who's home is being invaded," Yami said. He stood from the couch and began pacing quickly across the Kame Game Shop.

"Do you think he knows?" Yugi asked.

"I would be surprised if he is not at least somewhat aware of what's going on," Yami said. "But no, I'm fairly certain he's not aware of the significance."

"We need to tell him then."

"Yes," Yami agreed, "but I'm not sure holding Court so soon after he's left would be a wise decision. We need to give him at least a couple days to recover his strength unless he contacts us first."

Just then, the little bell over the front entrance tinkled and Jounouchi stepped in. "Yo!" he called, waving. "You two ready t' go?"

"Yeah," Yugi called, hopping up from his seat. "Hang on. Let me get my bag."

Jounouchi sighed in mock exasperation. "And ya couldn' o' done that b'fore I got 'ere? Gah!"

Yami chuckled as Yugi returned with his messenger back slung over his shoulder. "Ready!" the young King chirped happily. "Be back later Grandpa," he called. "Do you need me to pick up anything from the store while I'm out?"

An old man about the same height as Yugi but with a more rotund belly stepped out from the back room and hummed. "Perhaps some more leeks would be nice. Oh and fresh salmon and a carton of eggs if you could."

"Sure. See you later."

"Be safe, Yugi!" Grandpa Mutou called after his grandson's retreating back.

"I will."

Such famous last words, Jounouchi would think later.

No sooner had the front door closed behind them when the distinct sound of a gunshot rang through the air. No one moved for a good few seconds, caught off guard. Then Yugi blinked and the scenery had changed. What had been a line of tall buildings distinguishing the Domino skyline was now solid, unbroken blue.

Confused, he blinked again and now Yami was hovering over him screaming at him. Tears filled his Ka's face and trailed down his cheeks. Why was Yami crying? Did something happen? Was he shot? Did Yami get shot?! Did Jounouchi?

No, Jounouchi could not have been shot because there was Red Eyes Black Dragon hovering behind Yami, blocking out more of the blue. Red Eyes roared and Yugi realized his perspective was off. Was the blue the sky? But that meant he was lying on the ground? Since when did that happen? Did he fall? But if he fell then who pushed him aside? He could not remember being pushed aside. But then, was he the one who got shot?

Was that why Yami was crying?

Yugi tried to speak, to reasure his Ka that he was fine. That he felt no pain. That he should not worry. But it came out as a gasp and a sharp, jagged sensation of intense pain. He had been shot. But why did he not feel the pain? Shock. He must be in shock.

He struggled to reach out to Yami and felt his Ka take his hand and hold it close to his face. Then Grandpa was there too and oh dear, Grandpa was crying to and shouting something to someone out of sight, Jounouchi? Grandpa had a cell phone in his hand and was speaking into it, probably calling an ambulance.

Shadows curled around him, caressing him, and Yugi sighed, recognizing Yami's distinct darkness. Surprisingly, he also felt a surge of balancing Shadows that could only belong to his Regent. But Kaiba was in another world, how did he know... Unless their connection truly was still strongly in place even through realities. That certainly reinforced the "Shadow Realm is like Dark Matter" theory.

Yep, he was definitely in shock if he was thinking about comparing the Shadows to astrophysics at a time like this. He felt himself smile wryly and Yami whirled, lashing out with his Shadows with a viciousness Yugi only vaguely remember from the times before he had become aware of his Ka or the memories Yami had during Yugi's absence during DOMA. Normally, such a response would terrify Yugi but right now, it was soothing and reassuring.

Kaiba's balancing Shadows reinforced his own by drifting further into the Light to even out the Dark's influence. Then something happened to his Light, or more specifically to Jounouchi's Light. It felt like a ripping sensation. He screamed and arched off the ground feeling Jounouchi's terror and despair.

What was happening? Something was being taken. But how and why and what? He had to do something. He had to help. He brushed his Deck and felt for a Spell and Monster. "Swords of Revealing Light," he breathed. "Silent Swordsman Level 7."

He felt his Shadows amplified by Kaiba's Lighter Balance cast the Spell and summon the Monster. Both would stand on their own now. He felt Yami's Shadows also summon a Monster. The familiar presences made him smile: Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl.

He reached for Jounouchi's Shadows and felt them frantic and frayed as if something had been literally ripped away from them. Yugi's Knight was raging and fighting with what felt like Flame Swordsman. Felt like... His senses were becoming muddled and every time Grandpa pressed on his wound it stung.

Then the battle ended just as suddenly as it started. He felt Yami and Jounouchi dismiss their Monsters and did the same allowing Swords of Revealing Light to remain in place until it faded of its own accord. It felt like only a few seconds before the Spell vanished replaced by flashing lights and strange people, emergency personnel. Yami vanished, back into Yugi's body and the Ba sighed in relief.

:Aibou!: Yami's though voice called desperately. :Aibou! Answer me, please. Are you alright? Aibou!:

Yugi smiled. He winced when the wound stung, jostled by the emergency personnel lifting him onto a bed and carted him into the ambulance. His Grandpa climbed in and sat next to him, clasping his hand hard. Yugi smiled for him.

:Is it bad, Yami?:

:It looks like it hit your lung,: Yami answered morosely. :When you fell, I wasn't... You didn't scream you just... Fell.:

Yugi closed his eyes but was immediately jostled by a woman wearing a uniform. Yugi could not quite make out what she said but he understood the meaning. He had to stay awake so they had a better chance of saving him. Hopefully, it was not a fatal shot.

:Did you see the shooter?:

Yugi felt his Ka shake his head in frustration. :Yes, but only after he'd...:

He did not have to say anymore, Yugi understood. He gently brushed his Ka with his Shadows and mind, soothing Yami's frayed temper and terrified worry. He felt Kaiba's Shadows latch onto his Light and yank him back abruptly. He blinked and realized he must have begun to doze off again.

:Are those...Kaiba's Shadows?: Yami gasped.

Yugi nodded mentally. :I'm not sure how, but he's helping me. It must be like how we can still feel his discomfort and pain from his tomb even through realities.:

Yami hummed. :Fascinating.:

:Do you think it's the same shooter as the one who attacked Kaiba?: Yugi asked.

:I would not be surprised if it was,: Yami hissed. :I never got the description of Kaiba's shooter but I know what this man looked like. I would recognize him again in an instant.:

:Yami,: Yugi asked, :what happened to Jounouchi? His Shadows, they were-:

:That sick bastard who shot you stole his Red Eyes,: Yami growled.

:Stole?!: Yugi gasped. :But how is that possible? The card-:

:Jounouchi still has the card. I mean the bastard actually stole Red Eyes. The Monster was ripped away from its card and imprisoned in a blank one the shooter held. It happened so fast we barely realized what was going on before we could launch a counter attack.: The Pharaoh yelled furiously. :He got away! He vanished in a flash of light before I could rip his heart out and feed it to Ammit.:

Yugi winced at the threat but continued soothing Yami's tangled Shadows, feeling them caress his in return. He blinked and noticed the white ceiling was moving. No, he was moving. The people around him were pushing his bed down a hall. He was in the hospital then. He was having trouble seeing over the oxygen mask. Then he fell heavy, tired. They must be getting ready to do surgery to remove the bullet.

Yami hissed and fought against the effects of the drug but Yugi calmed him, reassuring him. Kaiba's Shadows tightened their hold on Yugi's maintaining the connection moments before Yugi lost consciousness.

"Brace yourselves!" Green Lantern hollered seconds before flying down into the newly opened hatch, dragging the green orb down behind him. He released the orb's occupants while keeping a barrier of solid green light over the hatch preventing the effects of decompression from affecting them. Then the hatch closed.

"I take it, someone wanted us back in," Mai said, standing up next to Sif who had landed neatly on her feet.

Kaiba was holding his side where the sharp corner of the metal table bolted to the ground had jabbed him upon landing but otherwise he looked fine if a bit windblown. "Then let's find out who."

"I'll find Lorelei," Sif said. She held up a gold collar. "This will silence her and free everyone she has under her spell. If I can get it on her, it's over."

"We'll cover you," Lantern said definitively.

"I'll take Arrow," Kaiba said. "Mai go with Sif and help where you can. Lorelei's spells only work on men apparently, so your can distract her so Sif can get the upper hand."

"Good idea," Mai said.

"Lantern," Kaiba said. "If you see the chance to neutralize Arrow, take it."

Green Lantern's glowing green eyes narrowed and he nodded. Arrow was his friend and comrade but Lantern was soldier. He knew Arrow would not want this and he intended to free his friend. Marines left no one behind, ever.

"One last thing," Kaiba said, turning to Sif who was watching his with suspicion and grudging respect. "You can do what you want with Lorelei but I want to exact my own judgement for taking one of mine."

"As I guessed," she said. "You are not a simple knight."

Kaiba snorted. "Hardly. And I'll take my vengence with or without your help."

Sif nodded. "She is wanted in Asgard alive." Her lips quirked. "Although, I doubt they will question a bruise or two. We did fight after all."

Kaiba grinned and Lantern was reminded of snake preparing to bite. "My punishments don't tend to leave physical marks."

The door to the room suddenly opened and everyone went their separate ways before Sif could ask more.

"Ward! We have a problem!"

Lantern took care of the young man who screamed out the warning. Kaiba cursed and ran to the left with Lantern leaving Mai and Sif to take the right. He had no real idea where he was going except that he could feel Arrow's Shadows ahead and below him. So that's where he went.

He took the stairs down into the, he supposed basement was the best word at the moment. He stepped out of the stairwell and looked both ways. He was in the hanger bay area. "Lantern, go left, I'll take right. If you see Arrow, don't hold back."

"Got it."

Kaiba ran down the hall ahead and to the right. A flash of movement in his peripheral vision had him half forming a Spell when Shaadi suddenly leapt out and slammed his hands over his mouth. For a moment, Kaiba was stunned. He had not felt his Advisor's Shadows at all. Damn, the man was good, Kaiba grudgingly admitted.

Kaiba felt Shaadi brush his Shadows and the Regent was relieved to feel no bonds holding his Advisor's Shadows prisoner. That meant Shaadi was not under Lorelei's spell. Shaadi had obviously come to the same conclusion and stepped back, removing his hand from Kaiba's mouth. Shaadi pressed a finger against his lips and pointed to a corridor ahead where the hall turned to the left. Kaiba

"Regent!"

Arrow, Kaiba realized.

"Come out Regent!" Arrow called. "I know you're there."

Kaiba gestured for Shaadi to go around from the other way and the Advisor nodded, slipping out of the hallway back the way Kaiba came. Kaiba cast the Attack Guidance Barrier Spell before stepping boldly around the corner to face Arrow. The hallway here was narrow but workable. Unfortunately, Kaiba had barely any room to retreat due to the wall directly behind him unless he chose to run back down the hall. Arrow, on the other hand, had plenty of room to retreat to.

But that posed another problem. There was a large white compartment on Arrow's left directly behind him. A young girl with long brown hair was sitting on the bed. A computer was open and sitting in her lap but her eyes were focused on the two people in the hallway. The door to her compartment was closed, but Kaiba had no way of knowing whether it was locked or if the windows in the compartment were resistant to impacts, and if they were what kind of impacts.

Kaiba held his hands out on either side of his body before slipping them casually into his pockets. Arrow tightened his hold on his bow minutely, seeing the move as both a challenge and a dismissal.

"Are you here to stop me?" Arrow asked.

Kaiba smirked. "From doing what? Holding your bow? Standing in the hallway?" The Regent snorted. "I told you before, remember? I couldn't care less what you did so long as it did not break the rules of the Shadow Court."

"Which I'm not," Arrow said firmly. "I haven't used my Shadows on anyone."

"Yet," Kaiba added.

"Yet," Arrow said with a faint nod.

Kaiba grinned. "Then you don't have to worry about anything. I'm not here to stop you. Do what you want."

Arrow boinked in surprise. "You won't... Why?" he demanded suspiciously.

Kaiba shrugged. "I have no care for anyone outside my Court. That said, I have no care for you."

"Wha-?"

Before he could finish, Kaiba crouched and leapt at Arrow. The vigilante released his arrow just barely missing the Regent before swinging his bow as a blunt weapon. Kaiba caught it on his crossed forearms, gritting his teeth as heavy metal and wood impacted his unprotected arms.

Kaiba was strong, but without the Shadow reinforcing his strength, Arrow was clearly the physical victor. He felt Seth hiss, wanting to take physical form and join the fight but Kaiba held him back. He would need Seth in a few minutes, but he could not show his hand too soon. A Trap sprung too early was useless.

He allowed himself to be slammed bodily back against the metal wall behind him leaving just enough room between Arrow's back and the white medical compartment for a single, thin person to stand. Again, Kaiba held Seth back. He wanted to try his hand first before resorting to that Spell. The closeness of the hallway would mean he would be just as affected by the Spell as Arrow and he had no desire to suffer that if he could avoid it.

"You said you would not stop me," Arrow growled, the voice changer making his deep voice crackle with fury.

"I did," Kaiba hissed, wincing under Arrow's superior strength. "But I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to my kohai."

Arrow's brows drew down in confusion before solid, green light bound his arms to his sides. Kaiba did not need to look to see the solid light connect back to Green Lantern's ring of power. Shaadi stepped out from behind Lantern and dropped his shields. Arrow's eyes grew round and he looked over his shoulder to where his fellow Justice League comrade and the Advisor stood.

"As I said," Kaiba said drawing Arrow's attention back to him. The vigilante growled and aimed a kick at Kaiba's unprotected knee only for a solid Shadow to loop around his legs, binding them firmly to the ground. "I swore I would never interfere with your business so long as you did not break the laws of the Shadow Court and remained balanced and uninfluenced."

He pulled the vigilante close allowing Seth to appear in spiritual form directly behind Arrow with room to spare just in case it came to that. "I speak to the one within," Kaiba said, drawing his Shadows close to him, darkening the entire hallway and even the brightly lit medical compartment. The girl inside was still seated on the medical bed watching them with an expression that was both fascinated and scared.

"You are mine and mine only," Kaiba said impressing the influence if his Shadows against Arrow's with a steady force. "She may have your mind, but she cannot have youR soul. That belongs to me and me only. Do you hear that kohai? Your soul is mine. Mine and no one else's. I will be the one to collect it when you die. I will have you balanced and uninfluenced. Now fight this and return to me." Glacial eyes narrowed in dark fury and the Shadows writhed with chaotic power. "Or I will rip your mind back."

Arrow struggled in the green and Shadowy bonds holding him in place as well as the mental chains keeping both his powers and his mind enslaved. He was strong but not strong enough. It did not leave Kaiba with much of a choice.

:Seth,: he said.

His Ba met his eyes over Arrow's shoulder and nodded firmly. He materialized long enough to summon for Kaiba to summon the Spell Lightforce Sword. The long sword appeared in Seth's hand moments before he plunged it through Arrow's chest. Unfortunately, just like Kaiba knew would happen because of the cramped space but had steadfastly hoped would not, the long blade pierced his chest as well. Instantly, he felt the Spell take hold, yanking his soul into his soul room and slamming the door shut.

Seth vanished, returning to Kaiba's body fast enough to prevent him form crumbling to the ground. He could feel his Ka deep inside his mind, locked in his soul room by the Spell. He looked over his shoulder and saw Green Lantern walk forward hesitantly.

"What did you do?" he demanded.

"Lightforce Sword," Seth replied. "It's a Spell that binds the soul in its soul room rendering the person unconscious. There is no lasting damage."

Lantern glanced at Seth. "And Kaiba?"

Seth nodded. "The same," he replied. "I am taking his place until the Spell wears off."

"How long will that take?"

Seth tilted his head in a very un-Kaiba-like movement. "Perhaps a half hour or so. It depends. I may be able to rouse him before then if he succeeds in loosening the bindings of the Spell. Otherwise, he cannot come out and I cannot retreat."

Lantern nodded and eased Arrow down so he could carry him. He looked over to the young woman in the medical cubical curiously. She waved with a stunned expression on her face to which Shaadi blinked.

"I take it she is the one whom you were curious about," Seth said, stepping up next to Kaiba's Advisor.

"Indeed." Shaadi's eyes stared directly at the young woman who made a face at them before going back to typing quickly on her computer.

"She does not fear us?" Seth asked.

"No," Shaadi answered. "She just ignores me or stares at me. If I blink she cheers as if she has won a game. It is," Shaadi paused thoughtfully, "curious."

Seth sighed. "Is there any particular reason you find this human fascinating?"

Shaadi nodded slowly. "She should be dead."

"Dead?" Lantern repeated. "Why should she be dead?"

"Because she died, Lantern," Shaadi said. "I feel it on her. She Shadows are intrigued as well as disgusted by her presence. It is the same for the man Coulson. The only difference is his...death sensation has faded as if by time. This girl's death is recent and so her death sensation is fresh and strong. It...disturbs me."

Seth nodded. "Then we should leave for now. Leave that which has nothing to do with us or own."

"As you say," Shaadi said following his Regent's Ba.

Mai ducked under the blade and tangled her Thorn Whip around Lorelei's arm, yanked hard just as Sif snatched the witch's red hair and threw her to the ground. Together, they wrestled the witch into submission. Sif knelt with the tip of her sword held firmly against Lorelei's neck.

"Kill me," Lorelei said. "I would rather die then go back to that place."

Mai admired the way Sif's hand never wavered despite how badly she clearly wanted to rip Lorelei's throat out. The witch saw the same thing.

"You want to," she said. "I can see it in your eyes. Or would you rather I talk about I took the man you loved from under your nose. Of his touch, his kiss, how he followed me around like a dog, of hi-"

Mai yanked and the thorns of her Thorn Whip dug bleeding holes in the witch's neck just as Sif slapped the collar on. Lorelei choked on the thorn before falling absolutely silent as the collar's effect began. The gold rings of the collar lifted to form a basket weave over the bottom half of her face silencing her for good.

Mai dismissed her Thorn Whip and tossed her damp hair over her shoulder. "Well, that was certainly fun," she said. "I haven't had the chance to tel loose like that in a while."

Sif stood, dragging the compliant Lorelei with her, locking manacles around her wrists for good measure. Lorelei glared murderously at the warrioress who merely grinned before turning away, snubbing the witch's existence. "I agree," she said to Mai. "You are a fine shieldmaiden."

Mai grinned and winked flirtatiously. "Why thank you, dear," she said. "Hit me uo if you ever want to spar."

Sif's eyebrows drew down in confusion. "Hit you?"

Mai waved. "It's an expression. It means, 'call me' or 'let me know.'"

"Ah, I see." Sif said as she and Mai walked out of the room and into the common area.

The common room was a mess of broken furniture and glass. Melinda May was on her feet staring at a stunned Ward who was frantically apologizing and saying he was free.

"He speaks true," Sif called to May. "Lorelei has been silenced. He is free of her spell."

May nodded, punched Ward, and answered flatly, "Good to know."

Mai snickered. She looked over her shoulder when Kaiba appeared from the other hallways accompanied by Green Lantern holding Arrow's unconscious body and Shaadi by his side. She stiffened when she felt Seth's Shadows instead of Kaiba's. Sif noticed her tension and followed her gaze to the newly arrived group. Seth met Mai's eyes evenly before sliding over to Sif's.

The Asgardian warrior narrowed her eyes at Kaiba, sensing a different presence than the one she had spoken to or the one she first met on the battle field of Rosie's Diner. This presence felt much like the one she spoke with just before the Sorceress first appeared. It was older, wiser, and felt cautious.

"Where's Coulson?" Ward asked.

"Landing this thing," May said, rubbing blood off her lip. "Someone's got to fly it." She turned to the black and green clad man and drew her gun. "Now who the hell are you?"

"A friend," Sif said quickly, stepping between May and Lantern. "He saved my life when Lorelei attempted to eject me from your flying vessel."

"I don't like strangers on my plane," May said, not lowering her gun.

"Then it would be best if we leave," Seth said, speaking finally. May looked at him sharply before lowering her gun. "If you land this craft, we will leave. You have my word."

Sif again felt the lingering tingles on her senses warning her that this was a different person. But she could not understand why or how this was. She looked back at Mai and noticed the Sorceress had moved to stand next to the one called Shaadi offering her silent support. Perhaps this was yet another form of the strange magic. Then again, perhaps not.

"It is a sound strategy," she said finally turning back to May. "I too will need to stand on solid ground for the bifrost to take us back to Asgard."

May nodded. "I'll tell Coulson." She shot another poisonous glare at Ward who winced before walking off.

Mai snickered. "You'll have a hard time with her, I think, " she said.

Ward sighed heavily, rubbing his aching neck. "Yeah." He glared at Lorelei. "But I think I can deal as long as she's locked up nice and tight."

Sif grinned. "She will be. You have my word."

Seth waited patiently for Kaiba to widdle away the vestiges of the Lightforce Sword Spell before ceding control back to him. By that time, the airplane had landed and Sif was giving her final farewells to Coulson and May. She glanced sharply at him when Kaiba resumed control.

Kaiba lifted an eyebrow in interest. So the warrior could sense the differences between himself and Seth. Seth hovered close to his Ka's mind curiously. Sif stepped away from Coulson and met Kaiba's eyes evenly. Kaiba's lips twitched up in approval.

"You asked to exact your own punishment on Lorelei for the imprisonment of your comrade at arms," she said.

"Kaiba felt Arrow shift self-consciously behind him but made no indication of it. He simply stared back at Sif expectantly.

"If you wish to do it, now is the time," she said.

"We don't approve of torture here," Coulson said, stepping forward.

"Pity," Kaiba said. "I would enjoy torturing her." His eyes burned with a frigid fire. "But seeing as we are both short on time, you have my word that this will be quick."

"No torture," Coulson said firmly, his eyes darkening. Kaiba noticed the subtle change with interest. So this man was familiar with torture.

The Regent nodded. "It will not be torture, just a Penalty. Nothing more. It won't take more than minute. You can watch if you'd like. I will not lay a hand on her."

"Nor your companions," Coulson said.

"Neither my companions nor I will touch her," Kaiba promised.

"If I even think-"

"Feel free to stop me," Kaiba said brushing past the man to walk towards Lorelei. "Kohai, to me."

Mai stood back and watched as the vigilante moved hesitantly over to her Regent. She could feel Arrow's Shadows subdued and reluctant to activate as they had been since he woke. It would take a while for them and their wielder to recover from the experience. She knew the feeling intimately well. It had been years and she was still not completely recovered from the incident. At least Arrow was with the right crowd. Group therapy had its perks after all.

Kaiba waited patiently for Arrow to stand beside him, brushing his Shadows against the vigilante's. Arrow hesitantly touched back, unsure and apologetic. Kaiba yanked the Shadows hard enough to startle the man. He glared at him with a look of disdain to which Arrow smirked and tugged back with his own Shadows. That brown a sly grin to Kaiba's lips.

Without further ado, Kaiba turned his blue eyes on Lorelei who was watching them distrustfully. "You have trespassed on the souls of many including one of mine," Kaiba said. "I could let the Shadows exact their own punishment on you, but I have some mercy."

He glanced at Arrow who met his eyes before shaking his head. Kaiba lifted an eyebrow but acquiesced. He stepped back held out his hand, palm open and summoned the Millennium Scales into existence. "You stand accused of imprisoning the mind of the one called Arrow of Starling City," Kaiba declared. "I will ask you three questions which you will answer with a nod for yes and head shake for no. Is this understood?"

Lorelei's eyes had grown wide when the golden scales inscribed with the Eye of Ra upon them materialized above Kaiba's hand. Mai and Shaadi stepped on either side of Kaiba and Arrow, enforcing their Regent's words and Shadows with their presence. Shaadi removed the small feather he wore tucked in his turban and placed it on one of the empty pans. The Scales immediately balanced and Kaiba nodded.

"If the pan with the feather drops to the bottom by the third question, you are found innocent and will be released without penalty," Kaiba said. "However, should the empty pan touch the bottom, you are guilty and will be punished for the crime to which you are accused."

Green Lantern stood back from the events, placing a hand on Coulson's shoulder. "Don't worry," he said. "It's a Court of his magic."

"Oh really?" Coulson said. "And who's the judge?"

"Or the jury?" May said, finger her gun.

"The magic they answer to," Lantern said. "Believe me, it's better if they handle it then leaving it up to their magic. It doesn't tend to be a pretty sight if they leave it to the Shadows. I don't understand it completely myself but in this case, I'm behind them."

"You would swear on you honor?" Sif demanded.

Lantern met her eyes with the power and respect of a fellow soldier. "I do."

Sif nodded. "Then I trust your word, but if I feel things have gone too far, I will step in."

"I understand," Lantern said.

Kaiba crossed his arms across his chest and spoke. "You were imprisoned for a similar crime in the past, is that not so?"

Lorelei snarled soundlessly, glaring at him over her silencing collar. The Scales clicked to the side so the pan with the feather rose a single notch and the empty pan dropped. Kaiba ignored them and asked his second question.

"Did you be-spell my companion called Arrow of Starling City and force him to do your bidding?" he said.

This time, Lorelei met his gaze defiantly and made no move. The Scales clicked again and the empty pan dropped another notch.

"Finally, did you enjoy it?"

"What kind of question is that?" May asked.

Lorelei's eyes gleamed and Kaiba could swear she was grinning at him behind the silencing collar. She nodded and the Scales clinked once more and the empty pan struck the bottom. The Scales vanished and Kaiba sighed.

"You have been found guilty of the crime for which you are accused," he declared. "Your Penalty Game shall be chosen not by me, but by the one whom you possessed." He turned to Arrow and waited for the vigilante to speak.

Arrow remained silent for several seconds before speaking. "You rely on your beauty and words to seduce men and bring you power." He lifted his face so his forest green eyes burning brilliantly in the darkness of his hood. "I strip you of your beauty and voice forever. Even if the collar silencing you is removed, you will never speak again. Only the sounds of a goat will ever escape your throat. Anyone who hears you or sees you will be repulsed."

"As you say," Kaiba said nodding. "So shall it be." He turned back to Lorelei, reveling in her horrified gaze. He smirked and said in hieratic, "This Penalty Game is approved by the Regent of the Shadow Realm and Earthbound Shadow Kingdom."

Instantly, the Shadows writhed around Lorelei, vanishing as abruptly as the appeared. At first it seemed nothing had happened. Then cracks began forming across Lorelei's face, fracturing into long continuous fissures which dried up like withered leaves and peeled away revealing a hideous visage the likes of which made even Sif flinch. Kaiba's eyes narrowed but made no other move to express his disgust.

I stead, he turned away, dismissing the woman. The Judgement Game and Penalty Gamehad been cast, deemed just, and completed, and Arrow was back in his fold. He had nothing more to do here.

"As promised," he said to Sif. "I and my people have not touched her. Her life is still hers and I have had my vengeance. I want nothing more to do with her."

Coulson blinked. "What did you do exactly?"

"I removed the physical beauty she once had and revealed the disgusting form of her heart and soul," Kaiba replied. "Nothing more. It was not painful at all, despite how much I wish it had been." He turned to Green Lantern. "We're going."

Green Lantern jolted to attention before following after Kaiba.

"Mai isn't really a Sorceress is she?" Coulson called, ignoring Sif guiding s distraught Lorelei down the hanger door to await the bifrost.

"On the contrary," Mai said happily. "I most certainly am. I'm just his Sorceress," she said, pointing her thumb to Kaiba.

"And that makes you...?"

"The Regent."

"Regent of what?"

Kaiba just grinned and walked away.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to demand an answer," Coulson said chasing them as a sedate pace. "I need to know if you pose a threat to this world."

Kaiba paused. "Shaadi," he said in hieratic, "starting looking for a place to Travel in case we need to leave in a hurry."

Shaadi nodded and obeyed while Kaiba turned to fully face the man. Coulson did not had an intimidating appearance but his manner and the way he carried himself spoke of a man of respect, honor, honestly, and power. Kaiba acknowledged that.

"Unless you harm one of mine, I could care less what happens you you, your people, your anyone in this world," Kaiba said. "This planet, this universe could burn to the ground and I would not give a damn about it. All I care about are those who are mine. Leave us be and we will leave you be."

"And if our paths should cross again?"

"Then let's hope it's not as enemies," Kaiba replied.

"Why are you here if you really don't care about this place?" Coulson asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets in a nonchalant manner.

Kaiba felt Shaadi brush his Shadows indicating he had found a place and was ready to Travel whenever. Kaiba returned the brush with one of his own before answering Coulson's question. "Something has been stolen from me," he said simply. "And I want it back."

"What kind of 'something?'" Coulson pressed. "Maybe my people have come across it."

"I should hope not," Kaiba said. "If I find out you have and have mistreated him, I will obliterate your existence."

"Him. So not a thing, then," Coulson said.

Kaiba felt Seth in the back of his mind soothing his temper and said, "My brother. Someone tried to kill him. He's been taken from me."

Coulson's eyes softened. "Then I wish you luck," he said.

Kaiba nodded. He reached out and felt Shaadi take his hand. Just before they Traveled Couslon said, "You never did answer my question."

Kaiba lifted an eyebrow. "Which one?"

"Regent of what?"

Kaiba smirked. "The Shadows." Shaadi shook his head at his Regent's theatrics and Travelled them to a safe location.

Coulson did not even blink at the disappearance, watching as the bifrost slammed to the earth in brilliant iridescent color taking Sif and the disfigured Lorelei back to Asgard. He just shook his head and muttered, "I'm glad I'm an only child."

They materialized in the shadow of a building which Kaiba took to be a visitor's center. He looked around and was unimpressed. At least it had toilets and maybe even some clothes to pilfer for Green Lantern who still looked ridiculous in his Justice League getup.

Then the bullet tore through a chest and the game changed.