Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or its characters/monsters. You all should know that by now.

I woke up more refreshed that I thought I would be. Despite the Wall Shadow haunting my dreams every now and then, I was in a good mood. Then I remembered Papa. Where was he?

Meg had left a note on the door.

Kisara,

I'm working in the kitchens downstairs to earn more money. You know as well as I do that we barely scrounged this room last night. Meet me there.

Meg

I stretched and opened the door. To my surprise, I saw Serenity outside the door.

"Serenity, what are you doing here?"

"I work here, Kisara. What are you doing here?"

"We had to spend the night. Papa's gone missing," I said.

"What?"

"I haven't seen him in two days, Serenity."

"That's awful! I'll ask if anyone's seen him. I got Meg that temporary job in the kitchens."

"I owe you, Serenity. Is she still there?"

"She was the last time I checked."

"I've gotta find her."

"Wait, Kisara. You're forgetting your bag."

"Thanks," I said.

"I'll get it," she said. "Ugh, this is heavy. What's in here?"

I mentally berated myself for forgetting my recent burden. The dragon egg.

"A temple cleric told me to put this white stone in here."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure."

She opened my bag. The egg glittered in the sunlight.

"Do you mind if I take it out?"

"Not at all."

She pulled the egg out of my bag.

"Kisara, look at this. I think it's an egg!"

I looked around and then lowered my voice to a whisper.

"It's a White Stone of Legend. A dragon egg."

"Why do you have this?"

"The temple cleric told me to raise it."

"What kind of dragon is it?"

"White dragon," I muttered.

"But those are really rare! I'm surprised they're not raising the dragon themselves!"

"They kept going on about how we have some inescapable bond. I'm stuck with it for life."

"I'm sorry," she said. She knew exactly why I hated dragons.

"Me too," I replied.

"Where are you going to keep it?"

"Definitely not in the house."

"I hate to have to break up this conversation, but I have to clean the room now. I'll talk to you later."

"Please don't tell anyone about the dragon egg."

"I won't. I promise."

"Thanks, Serenity."

"No problem. I'll see you later Kisara."

"Bye, Serenity."

"Bye."

I walked downstairs. The barmaid asked if I wanted anything. I declined, having no money.

"Your accomplice has more than paid off enough for you to have breakfast."

"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry."

Of course, that's when my stomach growled.

"You can have your food for free. You didn't have dinner, did you?"

"No."

"Then your food's free. Might I ask why you didn't eat anything last night."

"We spent all our money on the room last night."

"Come to think of it, I know you live on the outskirts of town. Why did you stay here in the first place?"

"Papa's gone missing. Meg had us stay here because she doesn't think it's safe to go back to our house."

"Madam, why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know," I said truthfully.

"Well, what do you want to eat?"

"A turkey sandwich would be nice."

"You skipped dinner. What else would you like to eat?"

"I guess I'd like scrambled eggs and an apple."

"What do you want to drink?"

"Milk will be fine."

The barmaid started getting the food from the kitchen. She sat me down at a table and handed me some napkins. I began to eat (my stomach was singing my praises). I normally had better food at home, but I was so hungry that I didn't care about the taste. After wolfing down my breakfast, I headed to the kitchen. Meg was washing the dishes via means of a spell.

"Hey, Meg."

"Good morning, Kisara."

"How have you been."

"I've rarely had to use magic so frequently. I'm tired, but I don't feel tired. It's somewhat hard to explain."

"I think I get it."

"So, how have you been?"

"The barmaid gave me breakfast for free."

"She did for me, though I guess working in here is payment enough."

"Serenity works here."

"I saw that. I never knew she had a job here."

"Me neither."

"When do you want to head out?"

"You just missed everyone else staying here. They all came down at once and finished eating everything at the same time. It'll still be a little longer."

"Should I go ahead?"

"I suppose. Where do you want to meet?"

"I don't know."

"Meet me by the fountain in the town square at around noon. I'll have done a little searching of my own by then."

"Okay. I'll see you later, Meg."

"Take care of yourself, Kisara."

I left the tavern and started asking around. No one that I asked had seen any sign of him.

Papa, where are you?

"Kisara, there you are!"

I looked and saw Vivian Wong.

Oh great.

"Yes, here I am."

"It's been decided."

"What?"

"You need a boyfriend."

"Excuse me?"

"Everyone else our age has one!"

"Even Duke Devlin?"

"Every other girl our age," she corrected.

"So I was right," I teased.

"Don't talk about Schnookiums that way," she yelled.

"Schnookiums?" I started to laugh.

"My boyfriend! Duke Devlin."

"I knew there was something between you two."

"He's only the dreamiest-"

"That's nice, Vivian. Have you seen my dad?"

"-most handsome, charming Dukey poo on the face of the planet!"

"Dukey poo? That's even worse than Schnookiums. And were you even listening?"

"Huh?"

"My dad has been missing for two days. Have you seen him?"

"No, I haven't."

"Has ANYONE seen him?"

"I wouldn't know," suddenly she let out a squeal and started waving ecstatically.

"DUKEY POO!"

I facepalmed. Of course, Vivian would be no help. I should have realized it as soon as I saw her.

"Kisara!"

I turned around and saw a panicked Rebecca running towards me.

"I found your Dad!"

"What? Where is he?"

"He's tied up in my closet!"

"What? How did he get there?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. He's been gagged, though I cut the rope doing it. He really doesn't look okay."

"Show me!"

We started running to her house. She led me up the stairs to her closet. When I saw him, he barely seemed to recognize me. He was almost as pale as me and drenched in sweat. There were several cuts across his face, and he had dark circles under his heavily lidded eyes. He was breathing deeply, and he seemed to wince each time he breathed, almost as if he had a broken rib or two. Bruises were everywhere his clothes weren't covering him, and I was sure there were plenty more under his clothes. There was a rope binding him that I could see Rebecca had tried to cut, but the rope was too thick or the knife too dull.

"Papa!"

"Ki… sa… ra…"

"He needs water, fast!" I turned and saw Meg running up the stairs.

"I've got it here," Rebecca's grandfather came right after her.

Meg lifted Papa's head and poured the water down his parched throat. Then she used a spell to break the rope binding him.

"Thank… you," he said.

"He needs medical care immediately. I'll need help transporting him. Kisara?"

I nodded in understanding. I put his arm around my shoulder, while Meg did the same with his other arm. He was very weak, barely able to move his legs as we walked him down the stairs.

A wagon was waiting outside the door. A chestnut draft horse was pawing impatiently, raring to go.

We loaded Papa, and Mr. Hawkins started the wagon to the healer's house. With Meg's assistance, hopefully we would be able to heal him.

People scurried out of our way. When we got to the healer's house, we were shocked to find the door broken in.

"Hello?" Meg called.

We didn't hear an answer.

"Hello?" Meg repeated, louder.

We still didn't hear anything.

"I'll investigate. Stay with Mr. Hawkins."

Meg ran into the house. I peered in and saw broken pieces of ceramics and glass all over the floor. It seemed that there was a struggle. Then we heard a high-pitched scream.

"Don't kill me too!"

"I'm not going to kill you," Meg said.

"I don't care what she said, I'm following her," I said to Mr. Hawkins. "MEG! What's going on?"

"The healer's dead. It seems her daughter saw the murder. She's very distressed."

"Hang on, I'm coming!" I ran upstairs to where I heard Meg's voice.

A little girl with blond curly hair was crying into Meg's shoulder. Then I saw the healer with a knife plunged into her chest. There was no way she would have survived. An expression of shock and horror was etched on the face that would never move again.

"First your father gets this kind of injury, then the healer's dead. What's next?" Meg said, exasperated.

"I don't want to find out."

"Do me a favor, Kisara."

"What do you need?"

"Find me her books on healing. I'm going to see if I can find a spell or two that will help out."

"Understood." I searched her bedroom, but there wasn't a single book. I looked all through her house, even in her cupboards, but I wasn't any luckier.

It dawned on me that the broken glass and ceramics I had seen on the floor had been next to a bookshelf. I raced there and saw a torn page stuck in the crack in a place where the wood joined. Someone stole the books on healing. Without them, there was no hope of healing Papa. I walked back upstairs with a heavy heart.

"Meg?"

"Did you find the books?"

I took a deep breath. "They're gone. It seems like they were taken in a hurry. That's why there are so many pieces of broken glass on the floor there."

"Something's not right."

"That's the understatement of the year, but none the less true for it," I saw Mr. Hawkins walking up the stairs.

"Mr. Hawkins, did you hear everything?"

"No, but I know quite enough. Our entire village is threatened. I fear we are under attack."

"Why us?"

"I don't know, but think about it. This is a small village on the very edge of this country. Unless we send someone to get reinforcements today, word won't get around fast enough to prevent anything. Even then, it still might be too slow. The healer was killed. She didn't have an apprentice to take over. We have no one else who specializes in healing. Without a healer, we won't be able to resist whoever is endangering us for long. Your father was attacked, possibly to extract information about this village. I asked him who did it, but he can't seem to remember. We are in grave danger."

"Truer words have never been spoken, Arthur," Meg said. "Where's the mayor?"

"The mayor is rallying support in the town square. He's obtaining messengers to get help."

An idea occurred to me. "The temple clerics!"

"What?" Meg asked.

"The temple clerics should still be in the area!"

"Kisara, you're a genius," she said. "They're still in that clearing, right?"

"Maybe," I said.

"I need you to run there as fast as you can. If they're there, ask for assistance and see if they have a healer for your father."

"I will," I said.

"Best of luck to you, Kisara."

"Thanks, Meg," I said, running as fast as my legs would take me.

I ran into Marik while I was heading to the clearing.

"Kisara, what-"

"Marik! You're a temple cleric!"

"Had you already forgotten?"

"No, I need your help."

"I see you couldn't resist my manliness-"

"Are there any healers with you?"

"Yeah, Ishizu is the best healer I know."

"I need you to get her now!"

"Now? What's going on?"

"Our healer was murdered, and Papa is greatly hurt," I said.

"I'll see if we can stay in the area for much longer. This sounds like trouble."

"No duh."

"Right. I'll get her." He started to run.

"Wait up!"

Marik didn't seem to hear. I had already been out of breath when I found him. When I reached the clearing, I was about to pass out. Odion ran up to me.

"Kisara, what are you doing here?"

"Our town needs a healer and fast."

"What's going on?"

"Papa was brutally tortured, and our healer's dead."

"Marik was asking for her. I haven't seen him that excited since someone spiked his drink."

"What? Marik, the temple cleric, got drunk?"

"Yes, and Ishizu had to work up some pretty powerful spells to return him to semi-normal."

"You mean he's abnormal?"

"Oh, not him. Never Marik."

I laughed.

Ishizu and Marik came riding on one of the magnificent white horses I had seen the last time I had come to the clearing. Each was holding onto the reins of another horse.

"Kisara, do you know how to ride?" Marik asked.

"Sort of…"

"Climb on. It'll come to you soon."

I hesitantly climbed onto the horse while Odion did the same with the other. I kicked the horse on, and it immediately sprang into a gallop.

"Lead the way, Kisara," Ishizu said.

I spurred the mare on. We reached town in a matter of minutes. Papa and Rebecca were waiting outside the healer's house, her grandfather and Meg close behind.

"Is that him?" Ishizu asked, peering at his injuries.

"Yes."

"I daresay you resemble your mother, Kisara," she said, looking at Meg.

"She's not my mom."

"Your surrogate mother, then. It's been, too long, Gyakutenno Megami."

"You've grown, Ishizu. And call me Meg."

"Do you remember any healing magic?"

"It's been so long since I've used it that I don't trust my skill with it."

"You're right. Healing magic is something you want to constantly use if you don't want to lose it."

"Indeed. Will you do the honors?"

"Yes." Ishizu started to chant, and Papa's cuts and bruises started to heal as a green glow spread across his body. His breathing became easier, so I suspected that the magic healed his broken ribs.

"How is he?" I asked as the green light faded.

"He had four broken ribs, as well as numerous cuts and bruises. The ropes were so tight that they cut off circulation for a while. I've healed it enough that he should still be able to use his arms and legs. He'll need rest for a while."

"I can't thank you enough, Ishizu."

"It's my pleasure, as well as my duty."

"Indeed. A temple cleric's main duty is to the gods, then the people," Meg said.

"Where can we find another healer?"

"For the time being, we the temple clerics will stay in this village. The air reeks of darkness."

"Do you know about the necromancer?" Meg asked Ishizu.

"A necromancer? Where is he?"

"That's the thing. I don't know where he is. Assuming the necromancer is a he, of course."

"Ask the young girl whose mother was killed what her murderer looked like. That could help narrow our search."

"Miss," Meg called. The teary little girl came out.

"Yes?"

"What did your mother's killer look like?"

She looked at Marik. "He looked like him."

"But I was in the clearing all day yesterday after I left town. It can't have been me!"

"Peace, Marik. Your alibi is clear, as I was with you the whole time." She addressed the little girl again. "Did he look any different?"

"His hair was more gray and he had a huge scar on his right eye. But his eyes looked the same."

"Bakura!" Odion exclaimed.

"That would fit. I didn't know he was a necromancer, though. How could we have missed it?" Ishizu seemed furious, both with this "Bakura" and herself for not noticing.

"No offense, but how did someone like him get into your ranks?" I asked.

"It was an request given by one of our associates. He said that his friend's son was causing trouble, and he wanted us to unlock his inner light. So far, our attempts have been unsuccessful. But to think that he would stoop this low…"

"Yesterday, there was a Wall Shadow in our inn room. Meg killed it after it attacked us. Is it possible that this Bakura summoned it?"

"It is very possible. He overheard us talking about the White Stone of Legend. I'll bet he's trying to get it for himself. How is it, by the way?"

"I don't know."

"I'll get back to your mayor about it. The egg was entrusted to one of his citizens," she said, looking at Mr. Hawkins.

Papa stirred in his sleep.

"PAPA!" I said, hugging him.

"Hello, Kisara. What happened to me?"

"You were attacked."

"What?" he seemed dazed.

"Do you remember anything?"

"No. What are the temple clerics doing here?" he asked, looking at the Ishtars.

"Your healer was killed. We're staying here until we can get your village another healer."

"Veria's dead?"

"Yes. Her daughter survived, though she's very traumatized."

Papa looked at the small child. "If it's alright with her, we'll take her home with us."

"Is it okay with you?" Meg asked the small child.

"I want Mommy!" she whined and started to cry again.

"It's okay," Meg said softly, cradling the child.

"No it's not! Mommy's gone and I'll never see her again!" With this, she cried even more earnestly.

"She's precocious," I said quietly to Rebecca.

"Mmhmm."

We heard hooves clopping on the cobblestone road. The mayor had ridden up.

"Greetings, temple clerics," he said.

"Greetings to you as well," Ishizu said.

"I hear Veria's dead. Is this true?"

"I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE MOMMY AGAIN!" the little girl screamed.

"I'm afraid it's true," said Odion, who hadn't spoken much.

"This is terrible news. I've sent runners to get help from nearby villages and to let the capital know of our plight."

"Will that be enough?" Marik asked.

"I can only hope so."

"Bastian was attacked," Meg said. (AN: Bastian is Kisara's father. He has golden brown hair, hazel eyes, and slightly tanned skin.)

"What?"

"He can't remember anything about the attack, so we have no leads on who did it. We have a suspect, however. He looks similar to Marik, but he has a scar over his right eye and grayer hair. His name is Bakura," Ishizu added.

"I'll remember that," the mayor said.

"Thank you," Meg said.

"It's my job to care for my citizens," he said. "Bastian, Megami, and Kisara, you may stay in Veria's home. I'll have someone move your belongings here. I'm afraid that the outskirts of town aren't as safe as they used to be."

"Thank you," Papa said.

"Like I said, it's my duty to care for the citizens of this village."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That night, our belongings that could be moved were brought to the new house.

Poppy (who was very hard to catch to be brought here) jumped on the counter and stole some broccoli florets before Meg shooed her away. Meg made stew for us all, though Zoe (the healer's daughter) barely touched her food out of grief. We didn't say much, because the events of the past few days had seemed too surreal.

I went to bed wondering what would be next…

So, what do you think? The next chapter is going to be BIG! I won't spoil what happens, but you'll find out the reason why I called this story Slip Up. Stay tuned, and review, please! Internet cookies to whoever reviews! :D