Auhtor's Note; Just thought I'd throw this index in now, in case anyone out there is in doubt about the names (I know- couldn't the Irish cailin have put it in earier than the thriteenth chapter?) Sorry peeps, and thnks for the great support and rave reviews pleez keep 'em coming, C yas! XxxxX (If there's any other names u wan't to know how to say, then just ask in a review or pm me- I'll be only too happy to help you out!! XxxxX

Sheejahri Shee-zh-ary

Denian Dee-ni-an

Dahrej Dah-rezh

Jazira Ja-zee-ra

Aralanti Ar-al-an-ty

Marthui Mar-th-wee

Herani Her-an-y

Kayreena Kai-ree-na

Valkyria Val-keer-ia

"Denian, get up!"

The twenty-two year old woke to find one of his brothers shaking him…it was too early in the morning to tell which one, his vision still being blurred by sleep and his eyes stinging and watering at the rude awakening.

"Fuck off whoever you are!"

Still half-asleep, he bated away the twin and turned on the sofa, feeling his skin brush against Ishizu's as he did so…one of his arms still around her naked and sleeping figure. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the annoyed brother had grabbed his older sibling and unceremoniously capped him off of the sofa and onto the carpeted floor. The carpet burned his skin as he landed with force; this woke Denian up with a rude start as he blinked.

"You little bastar-"

"Ah, ah; you tell me and Saheed not to be cursing!"

So it was Daknar who was greeting him this fine morning, he should have guessed; although identical in every aspect, Saheed seemed to be the quieter of the duo, leaving Daknar to be the unruly ringleader. Next thing he knew, his younger brother had thrown his clothes, which he'd discarded in last night's excitement, on top of him.

"C'mon…we have to get to Pretty-Boy's mansion…and now!"

At the sound of that, he was fully awake in a matter of a split-second and pulling on his jeans and hoody in record speed.

"Why're we needed?"

Daknar threw his older brother his runners as he answered.

"Bakura tried to mount an attack about an hour ago and we kept him off the grounds as best we could, but more are arriving and we're losing…"

"Why are you only waking me now, then?"

"Well, seems someone had a bit of action last night…we left you sleep…Marik and Odion are there with the Tombkeepers…we thought we could handle them without you…"

Denian looked out a window and saw that the dim light of pre-dawn was beginning to creep over the word.

"What time is it?"

"About a quarter-past-five by now…"

No wonder his eyes were stinging…if he'd managed to gain two or three hours' sleep he was lucky!

"What's going on?"

As the now-awake Ishizu asked this, Daknar took the hint and summoned a portal, disappearing back to the mansion. Denian turned to face her as she stood and dressed.

"My favourite cousin decided he wants to see the new arrival…along with all our family…"

"You're going?"

"I have to…if he gets through, he'll kill Kisara, Jazira and Kaiba…"

"Please be careful…"

"I'm not leaving you here alone, c'mon; I can summon a portal to the house…"

He raised his left hand, a black misty window appearing, and outstretched his right hand in her direction. Ishizu didn't hesitate in taking it and letting him pull her through the portal…black mist swirling…a sense of speeding along at a great speed…then a sudden, jarring sensation as her feet hit solid terra…

"Sorry, should have warned you…It'll wear off in a couple minutes…"

He smiled apologetically as her stomach gave an involuntary lurch, responding to the lightening-fast change of location. As Ishizu nodded and steadied herself, he cast a glance out one of the large, ornate bay windows, where the horizon was displaying the meek, grey light of premature morning.

"Denian?"

He looked around at his cousin's voice and saw Kisara standing, baby Jazira in hand, with Seto's arms around her…she looked so worried.

"Stay here and keep away from the window…Ishizu, I need you to recall your family…"

She blinked as he turned and said this to her.

"But…why?"

"Cos it's our fight, not yours…"

"Denian, I-"

"Just do it…please?"

With that meaningful plead, he raised a hand, summoned a misty portal and disappeared from view.

"Tombkeepers, back to the mansion; Ishizu's there. Marthui to the front!"

All heads turned as the youth appeared in the grey, early morning drizzle that floated down from the clouds above. Odion and Marik did as instructed, rounding up their family members. A couple of Marthui then summoned numerous portals and transported their now-allies back to the huge house.

"You two go back aswell."

The indignant reply came with an echo as the duo responded in unison.

"Not a hope!"

"Listen up twits; if he breaks through us, then I need you idiots back there to get Kisara, the baby, Kaiba and Ishizu out of here."

"Ishizu?"

Saheed looked confused for a second, but then his twin caught him in a headlock and grinned from ear-to-ear, exaggerating his words.

"C'mon…I shall explain all!"

The pair then disappeared through a portal, back to the house, with Daknar laughing the whole way. Everyone looked up as the imposing figure of Diabound materialized on the other side of the bordering fence. Takhar then approached their youthful leader and put forth the query that was on everyone's mind, overlooking the love-bites that adorned his tanned neck.

"Oh, please tell me you have a plan, Denian…"

The twenty-two year old remained impassive as he silently assessed the situation, then Bakura's cold voice could be heard calling out, taunting him; the duo had always hated each other for some, inexplicable reason, and Bakura would do just about anything to prove himself better than the prodigal Hirotsh…then again, Denian would probably go to equal lengths to be rid of Bakura...the loathe ran deep between the two...

"Come out and fight like the Aralanti you are, Denian!"

Ignoring the other assassin's jeers, Denian turned to Takhar and spoke lowly.

"If I bring Dark Magician into this, then I'm sacrificing my magic…can you guys keep them busy for five minutes?"

The older man nodded his head and set about taking control of the small band known as the Marthui, whilst Denian walked to the imposing wrought-iron gates of the estate and gripped a bar with his right hand, muttering rapid Egyptian he'd learnt as a near-toddler…

"What's he doing?"

Herani looked out the window and stared down at the figure of her future brother-in-law, while asking her fiancé the question. Saheed glanced over her shoulder…and then did a startled double-take.

"Hey Kisara, take a look at this!"

As all eyes looked out the window, the gates and fences that made up the perimeter of the Kaiba Family Estate began to glow and radiate a deep purple hue before fading to their original black…then gold blasts of energy shot high into the air. Kisara blinked…he'd tried to show her how to do that once…but on a much smaller and weaker scale.

"He just upped the ante…those were defensive spells…Egyptian ones…"

The black-haired girl trailed off as the harrowing silhouette of Diabound appeared, just beyond the barriers. Seto looked out, and wondered aloud as curiosity overtook.

"Will they hold up against him?"

"We're about to find out…"

Daknar spoke this as he, too, stared out…smart attitude having vanished…this was make or break time for them. All in the cavernous living room held their breath, the very air seeming to freeze, as Diabound attempted to cross the threshold………but the creature was instantly halted as, what looked like bolts of lightening, struck him square in the chest…knocking him backwards and causing the monster to dissipate, leaving Bakura to fall to his knees, clutching his chest, as his rival stood and looked on smugly from the protected confines of the mansion grounds.

"Ha, ha! You mad fucker!"

Daknar laughed loudly as Denian and the rest of their group decidedly walked up to the house…why bother using the portals when it was only such a short walk…besides, he'd used up a lot of energy on those defence spells. The young man ignored his hyperactive brother and bypassed him, heading straight for the living room where everyone was still stood…he continued forward and deftly lay down on a sofa.

"Fuck off you twits and let me sleep!"

"Awww…did Ishtar keep you up all night?-Oww!"

Daknar ducked as a second shoe was thrown at him, the first having made forceful contact with his head. As the identical pair continued to make more jeers about him having spent the night with Ishizu, Denian ran out of things to throw and reverted to the one thing he knew would strike the fear of Ra into his younger brothers…

The two froze instantly as Dark Magician raised his staff and aimed it at them, then Saheed looked to the owner of the Ka as everyone looked on, the Marthui knowing this was a normal sight amidst the Hirotsh boys.

"See…why d'you have to go and do that, huh? Now you're gonna go all funny and black out again and I'm fucked if I'm carrying your butt round for the day!"

"I don't care; me blacking out just means more sleep, now cunt off!"

Daknar grinned as Denian retaliated, then shrugged.

"Fine…we'll wait till you're conscious to slag you…until then, we'll just take it out on your woman!"

Denian looked to Ishizu and smirked bemusedly.

"Sorry, they're your problem now…"

With that, Dark Magician returned to his vessel and Denian fell limply onto the sofa…quite content to pass out like that.

a/n- did u like this chaptr?

Okay, I'm aware of the stress I've been placing on the MahadXIsis, DenianXIshizu thing, so the next chapter is totally KisaraXSeto! Preview on my profile page!