Phoenix: So, last chapter I thought it was about time to bring out the plot, even though it took me about 14 chapters. And I hope to make this chapter a little longer than my other ones. And by the way, I'm trying to update every Tuesday, providing nothing unexpected comes up or I feel like updating quicker. And I know it's 11 o'clock at night, but I still got it on time. So yeah…here's the new chapter:

Chapter 15: The First Attack

After an excruciating night of little sleep, Kari forced herself to get up and go to school. She felt especially weak, and it felt like her arms were the weakest. She took a good look at them, put on new bandages, and exited out of her apartment.

After trudging to school, she was extremely tired as she plopped down on her desk during first period. With half a mind, she closed her eyes and dozed off.

"Everyone should be aware that their Egyptian building model projects are due at the end of this week. I am now coming around to check your plans." Mr. C concluded as everyone scrambled into their groups and took out their papers.

Kari felt someone hit her arm and shake her awake. "Don't sleep," Misty said. "We have to get out our blueprints."

Kari stirred as she opened her eyes. "But we didn't even start the—"

"Oh, it's my…favorite group." Mr. C sarcastically said as he approached Misty, Kari, and Kaiba's group. "Let's see what you have so far."

He had a smug look on his face. They probably don't have anything done at all, he thought triumphantly.

"Well, you see—" Kari started.

"—our blueprints are right here." Kaiba finished as he pulled out a large sheet of paper from out of nowhere. On it was intricate schematics and all sorts of complicated explanations of the structure that was drawn on it.

Mr. C eyed it suspiciously. "Hmm…fine. Strange, it looks like Mr. Kaiba worked on it all by himself." He turned to Misty and Kari, finishing his sentence very slowly, as if he was talking to four year olds.

"No, we all did equal amount of work." Kaiba broke in before anyone else could add in their two cents.

Mr. C grunted and stalked off. Kaiba turned to them. "Alright, I did the layout, now you both build it."

Misty and Kari agreed since he did, after all, get them out of possible detention.

Shortly, Kari realized that the class grew silent. She saw that the principal walked in.

"I know I am interrupting, but I have an announcement to make," He started.

Someone started walking in through the door. It was a girl who was about the students' age, with black hair and red eyes. Then it dawned upon Kari: it was Akina. The girl with Red Eyes Black Dragon.

"This is a transfer student. Her name is Akina Hikari. She will be in this first period class, and I hope you will do your best to make friends with her. After I finish introducing her to all of her other classmates, she will return here since it's still first period. That is all," He concluded as he left the room, with Akina on his heels.

"Wasn't that the girl with the Red Eyes, who you dueled against a while ago?" Kaiba asked. Kari simply nodded.

"I know Akina, too," Misty said simply.

"You do? How?" Kari queried.

"I met her once when I was in a book store, looking through the manga section. She was also there, skimming through some books." Misty explained.

"Then I guess we all know her," Kari said. After a while, Akina returned. She immediately went over to them .

"At least I won't be too lonely starting this school, since I know you guys." She said as she joined our group. "How are you all doing? Oh, and Kari, look!" She said as she lifted up one of her feet to reveal a one of a pair of brown sandals on it.

"Oh, I see you found another pair," Kari smiled back, but rather weakly.

"What's with those cuts?" Akina asked, referring to the cuts on either side of Kari.

"It's nothing," She said quickly, and tried covering them with her uniform sleeve.

"You don't look so well, either," She pointed out.

"I guess I'm just tired," Kari said, which was partly true. But Akina was right; Kari's face looked drained and a little pale. Desperately trying to change the subject, Kari said, "So why did you change schools?"

"Oh, my parents thought this school was better in academics than the last one I was in. And even though it's still my first period, I like it better here anyway." She replied.

And the bell rang.

By the last period, Kari felt terrible. She was very weak, and it was visible on her face that she was in such a condition. She dragged her feet over to the tree where she was supposed to meet Misty and Kaiba for the project. They were already there, along with Akina, who was sitting in one of the branches.

"I was told that the last period of the day was a free period, so I decided to come here," She said happily. At least she was friendlier, since she didn't exactly like Kari when they first met.

"Don't you have work to do?" Kaiba asked her.

"No, not until tomorrow. The principal just wanted me to get used to my new classes for today," she explained.

"Hi, guys," Kari said softly, and everyone froze. They stared at her. She was like a zombie.

"What's wrong with you?" Kaiba asked with concern. Kari must've been on the verge of falling over, since he got up, put his laptop aside, and picked her up. Then he laid her down against the tree.

"I feel like…like I have no energy to do anything." She said slowly.

"Maybe we shouldn't do the project right now," Misty said, "And take you to the nurse."

Slowly, Kaiba started carrying Kari on his back to the nurse. Misty and Akina followed.

That's when it happened.

Cold winds started forming and the ghost from Kari's dream appeared yet again.

"Akhenaden!" Kaiba said, immediately recognizing his old father.

"…So it was Akhenaden who gave me these cuts. I should have known." Kari breathed.

Akhenaden aimed his Millennium Rod towards Kaiba and Kari, and sent a blast of dark energy towards them. Kaiba closed his eyes, anticipating the hit. When he realized the blow had not come, he opened his eyes. Standing in front of him was a Red Eyes Black Dragon.

Red Eyes had attacked the blast, proving to make the attacks equal. However, it couldn't hold out much longer, for some of the blast went through him and straight to Kari, who was on Kaiba's back.

Kari grunted and slid off of Kaiba's back and onto the ground. Red Eyes flew towards the ghost and tried to claw it, but the ghost simply disintegrated as quickly as it had come. The dragon then disappeared itself.

"It's okay, Red Eyes, you did your best." Akina said, and walked forward.

"You mean…that came from you?" Kaiba said with disbelief.

"Yeah, kind of like how your girlfriend's soul is Blue Eyes," Akina smiled.

Kaiba glared at her. Akina glared right back, and soon it became a staring contest.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Kisara needs help, you know," Misty said, annoyed.

"We can't bring her to the nurse! This is something that we have to fix ourselves!" Akina said.

"She's right. Everyone will think we're crazy if we tell them that a 5000 year old ghost is out to kill Kari." Kaiba said bluntly.

"I just need…some rest." Kari said.

Reluctantly, everyone helped by carrying her back to lay her under the tree.

"While she's recovering," Kaiba started and turned to Akina, "I want answers. Now. How did you summon Red Eyes and how do you know about Kisara's soul being Blue Eyes?"

Akina sighed. "I was also reincarnated into this time, just like Kisara. When I saw her, I immediately knew that she had the soul of Blue Eyes. I mean, it's obvious once you look at her. I also heard about her when I was living in Egypt, since people were exclaiming about a white dragon. She's the same case as me, only I was able to control Red Eyes so that I can summon it without being unconscious when it's out of my body."

"And you don't have to explain Akhenaden to me," She added. "I heard all about his tale in the past as well. I remember my past life, even though Kari doesn't. But I don't know what he did to her just now, so don't ask me that."

Kaiba and Misty took this all in. Even though Misty didn't know what was going on before, she started catching on and decided that it wasn't a good time to ask more questions. Kari also heard Akina, so she lifted up her head.

"So…your soul is the Red Eyes…just like how mine is Blue Eyes…so you are my counterpart?" Kari said.

"Well, if you want to put it that way, then yes," Akina confirmed. Suddenly she gasped. "Look at your arms!"

Kari's arms were bleeding again. This time, they both had a vertical line going through the two previous cuts, so the overall wounds were now shaped into crosses.

"What is Akhenaden up to?" Kaiba wondered. Kari, having regained a little strength back, sat up.

"Remember that dream…the one where he first gave me those cuts?" She turned toward Misty and Kaiba. "Well remember that he also said…there was going to be three attacks…and I think that was the first one."

"So what happens after the third attack? You die or something?" Akina asked.

Kaiba shot her another cold glare while Kari continued. "He said…I will perish after the third attack…And from my dreams in the past…he wants my soul again, because of Blue Eye's strong power…so has to kill me to get it."

"So he plans to do it with three hard blows," Misty stated.

"In that case, then…" Akina thought a moment, then exclaimed, "Everyone, have your decks on hand! We're going to beat him the old-fashioned way!"

"Old-fashioned way? Why can't we just use our fists and feet?" Misty queried.

"Because, I have a strategy! We'll challenge him to a duel. Since it takes energy out of him to summon Shadow Creatures and not us since we have cards, it'll slowly wear him down. Then we'll go in, steal his—what do you call it? Millennium Rod?—yes, Millenium Rod, and seal him away for good!" Akina finished proudly.

She may not look it, but she actually came up with a decent strategy, Kaiba thought. We just might beat him.

"Oh yeah, one thing though..." Akina added, "Unless you want to be banished to the Shadow Realm, then you have to win!"

Phoenix: Ha, I used over 4 pages this time. I usually use 2 ½-3 pages, so this chapter's longer. I don't know if I explained everything good in this chapter, so if you're confused, then just say so in a review or PM or whatever and I'll get back to you. So, Akina came back and she transferred to Domino High. She's not really Kari's rival anymore, though. And she's named after my good friend Akina Sachi, and the character's personality is also a little like hers. Are you happy now, Akia-san? Your character came back into the story! Next chapter: The Second Attack. Hehehe...